The Toronto Blue Jays have been trying to shake some lingering titles and tags for some time. Labels to tune of “underachievers” who are in a perpetual state of drifting, in search of a “missing offence”, have followed this team for the bulk of the past five seasons.
Silent bats, in particular from the resident All Stars (Bo & Vladdy), who are supposed to be carrying this team towards an annual playoff push. But for flashes of brilliance from a starting rotation that one-through-three continues to be as steady and solid as any in MLB, the Jays might have found themselves in the AL East basement.
Not anymore. The rotation is now on the verge of becoming a one-through-five juggernaut, poised to stop offering free passes or softly served gopher balls for the opposition to deposit into the West-Jet Flight Deck.
Major League Baseball, like all professional sports, rewards those whose metrics indicate an upward trajectory and a high ceiling for success. Conversely, and perhaps more quickly and thoroughly, it can punish and discard those who are moving in the other direction. Lauer has been a gem of a find for the Toronto Blue Jays, and his success did not come overnight or by accident.
The lefty was drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres after being named Division 1 National Pitcher of the Year at Kent State. Lauer’s minuscule 0.69 ERA in his junior year before being drafted was the lowest total in college baseball in almost 40 years. He shuffled around to a couple of different teams before landing and finding success with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lauer’s standout year was in 2022 when he posted an 11-7 record, with 157 strikeouts over 158 innings. A string of injuries after that banner season led to a period of ineffectiveness and ultimately, a release. He later found new life and a rejuvenated career through the Korean Baseball League (KBO), playing a steady role in the Kia Tigers’ 2024 Korean Series Championship.
The Jays took quick action to sign Lauer to a minor-league deal, just two weeks after he was declared a free agent from the KBO. With former number four starter Bowden Francis struggling heavily, and now on the IL, Lauer is taking full advantage of a golden opportunity and a second life in his MLB career.
If Wednesday’s effort is any indication, then this is a massive advantage for the Blue Jays that nobody could have foreseen coming. Lauer stymied the high-powered Arizona D-Backs offence through five innings, earning a win while surrendering just one run on four hits, striking out eight.
The number five spot in the rotation is still in question at the moment, but that could change any day. Max Scherzer showed excellent command, striking out eight himself as he took the mound yesterday for what is said to be his final rehab start in AAA Buffalo. While Scherzer’s velocity is not what it once was throughout his 18-year career, he appears able to make up for it with command and a fierce level of competitiveness.
In a year where MLB has seen a sudden surge of rejuvenated former star pitchers, like Jacob DeGrom, Clayton Kershaw, and perhaps Robby Ray, Scherzer is anxious to get back on an MLB mound and prove that he still has something left in the tank. The thumb injury is a bit of a mystery. If it could be kept under wraps to the extent that Mad Max returns and offers five or six quality starts for the Jays, then that would help their playoff push tremendously.
The Jays have had little to no respect in the 2025 MLB Power Rankings up until now. This is about to change. Vladdy is showing signs of actually being deserving of All-Star consideration. If he can get hot and provide his competent power bat at the top of the order, then Bo will follow suit. Bichette is also beginning to make another strong case for All-Star consideration.
The added pop of phenom second-year 3B/OF Addison Barger and the strong first half from veteran George Springer are creating a shift in terms of the fixed labels that are often applied to the Blue Jays. The new tags, as they rise in the power rankings, will be “dangerous,” “contenders,” and ultimately a team that nobody will wish to play against.
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