Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer has delivered everything the team has asked of him in 2026, but his strong regular season still may not be enough to secure a spot on the Dodgers’ postseason roster.
Lauer joined Los Angeles in May after the Toronto Blue Jays designated him for assignment and traded him. Since then, the left-hander has revived his season and become one of the Dodgers’ most dependable pitchers.
How has Eric Lauer performed for the Dodgers in 2026?
Lauer’s ERA has dropped from 6.69 with Toronto to 3.78 with the Dodgers. His ERA+ has improved from 67 to 107, while his WHIP has fallen from 1.486 to 1.145. His FIP, or fielding independent pitching, has also improved from 6.91 to 5.21.
Even more importantly, the Dodgers have consistently won when Lauer takes the mound.
Los Angeles did not lose a game started by Lauer until Aug. 5, when the Chicago Cubs defeated the Dodgers 7-6. The Dodgers then suffered another one-run loss, falling 6-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 26.
Despite those defeats, the Dodgers are 11-2 with Lauer on the mound, and he has posted a personal record of 6-1.
Eric Lauer remains on the bubble for the Dodgers’ playoff roster
Lauer has moved between the starting rotation and bullpen this season, but neither role appears to have a clear postseason opening for him, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Although Lauer has been successful as a regular-season starter, he is unlikely to join the Dodgers’ postseason rotation ahead of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell. Justin Wrobleski, an All-Star this season, is also being shifted to the postseason bullpen and would be the most likely candidate to enter the rotation if a spot becomes available.
“On the pitching side, it’s hard to see Eric Lauer cracking the list, despite Lauer being one of the most dependable arms this season,” Woo wrote. “That Lauer looks to be outside the bubble has more to do with the left-handers that have more or less stamped their ticket on the roster: Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Jack Dreyer and most likely Justin Wrobleski, with Kris Bubic potentially in the mix.”
There is still time for the situation to change, but the window is closing. Lauer has produced a strong season for Los Angeles, yet he could ultimately be left off the Dodgers’ playoff roster.
