As Shohei Ohtani’s return nears, the Dodgers moved a starter to the bullpen
The Los Angeles Dodgers will move Eric Lauer out of their starting rotation when right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow is activated from the injured list before his start Tuesday in Atlanta.
The decision comes despite Lauer’s 7-1 record since joining Los Angeles in a May trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
For the Dodgers, the move is less about what Lauer has done than what the roster may soon require.
Lauer, a veteran left-hander, gives manager Dave Roberts a multi-inning option out of the bullpen while Glasnow works his way back into the rotation. He could also serve as a “piggyback” option for Ohtani, who may not need another tune-up before returning to game action.
Ohtani took another step Saturday at Dodger Stadium, throwing 30 pitches across six simulated plate appearances against rehabbing Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck), who has been on the injured list since June.
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Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani will throw a bullpen session during the Dodgers’ road trip. The team will then decide whether he needs to face live hitters again before appearing in a game.
In theory, Ohtani could rejoin the rotation after the Dodgers’ three-game series against the Tigers next weekend in Detroit. That would leave Lauer in a role that should feel familiar.
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Pitching for the Blue Jays in 2025, Lauer spent most of the season working out of the rotation from May through August, before becoming a reliever in September. Through his penultimate start, Lauer had a 2.76 ERA.
During Toronto’s run to the 2025 American League pennant, he did not allow a run over his final 8.2 postseason innings, including 5.2 scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the World Series.
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Now pitching for the defending champions, Lauer is poised to reprise that role as Glasnow and Ohtani prepare for what they hope will be another long postseason run. The Dodgers are looking to become the first team since the 2000 New York Yankees to win a third consecutive World Series.
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