Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Eric Lauer made his spring debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The veteran southpaw looked strong as he struck out three batters over two scoreless innings. The 28-year-old has been a reliable option throughout most of his career. However, Lauer struggled heavily during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers last season. Lauer recently joined the Pirates roster, so he won't be ready for Opening Day. He'll likely head to Triple-A to get stretched out a bit before being a possible option in a few weeks. Fantasy managers can use a wait-and-see approach here.

Free-agent left-hander Eric Lauer has signed a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will report to big-league spring training. The veteran elected free agency in October and has lingered on the open market weeks after pitchers and catchers reported for spring duty. Lauer spent the 2023 season with the Brewers where he worked to a 6.56 ERA in 10 outings (nine starts) and 46 2/3 innings of work. He was demoted to Triple-A Nashville where he posted a 5.15 ERA across 12 outings (nine starts) and 43 2/3 frames. A veteran of 120 MLB appearances, 112 of which were starts, Lauer owns a 4.30 ERA and tossed a 3.69 ERA in 29 starts as recently as the 2022 season. He could battle for a back-end rotation spot or perhaps a long-relief role as the Pirates' young arms gain more seasoning in the minors.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Lauer cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Friday. The Brewers decided to boot Lauer off the 40-man roster after his horrendous 2023 campaign. He registered a 6.56 ERA, 1.67 WHIP over 10 appearances (nine starts) with the Brewers. It's worth noting that before this season, Lauer was a viable option for Milwaukee over the last two seasons. That being said, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Brewers give him another shot in the rotation at some point. Although, Lauer does reserve the right to head into free agency if he wants to this offseason.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Eric Lauer, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville in mid-June, hasn't pitched since his demotion. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the 28-year-old is dealing with an undisclosed health issue, and the team placed him on the inactive list on Thursday. There's no timetable for Lauer's return. Across 42.2 innings at the big league level, the 28-year-old posted a 4-5 record, 5.48 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP with 41 strikeouts after a successful 2022 campaign in which he produced a 3.69 ERA with 11 wins. Lauer was already pretty irrelevant in fantasy leagues, but now he should be dropped everywhere.

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer (shoulder) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Lauer has been dealing with a left shoulder impingement, which had sidelined him on May 20 but it's nice to see him trending in the right direction. The southpaw put up an ugly 5.48 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 41:20 K/BB ratio across 42 2/3 innings (eight starts) before going down with the injury. He'll need a few tuneup starts before he's ready to return to the big league club so he should be back with the Brewers sometime in mid-June, barring a setback.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday. The left-hander made his return to the rotation on Saturday. Sadly, it didn't go as planned, Lauer allowed six runs over three-plus innings of work. He'll now head to the injured list with a left shoulder impingement. The organization hasn't given a timetable on Lauer's return. In a corresponding move, right-hander Tyson Miller has been recalled from the minors to take Lauer's spot on the roster.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer will have his next turn in the rotation skipped. The 27-year-old will be available out of the bullpen, but will take a backseat to Colin Rea for at least one start. Lauer has seen his velocity drop this season, so possibly that's why the Brewers are pulling him out of the rotation. He's posting a 4.72 ERA with 33/18 K/BB ratio in seven starts this season. He didn't have a ton of fantasy value anyway, but a move to the bullpen would basically end all his value.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer performed well on Thursday as he fired five-shutout frames in the team's 4-2 loss to the Marlins. The lefty struck out nine batters on the night, including four straight to begin the game, without walking a batter and allowing just one single in his 71-pitch effort. He was in line for the win until the bullpen blew it in the late innings, but it was good to see him dominate after struggling in his first game back off the IL last week. Lauer will take a 3.83 ERA and 1.24 WHIP into his final start of the season in a home showdown with the Diamondbacks.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Eric Lauer (elbow) is trending towards coming off the injured list to start on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds on the first day he's eligible to return. Lauer is throwing his second bullpen session on Tuesday, and barring a setback, it looks like he'll return to Milwaukee's rotation to begin a weekend series against Cincinnati. The 27-year-old southpaw last started on Sept. 7, when he surrendered seven earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out four in just 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Without going on a minor league rehab assignment, Lauer will be a bit risky as a fantasy option, even against the lowly Reds. In 26 starts in 2022, he's gone 10-7 with a 3.91 ERA (4.74 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, 138 K's and 52 walks in 145 innings pitched.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed Eric Lauer (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. He underwent an MRI Thursday, which revealed "encouraging" results. The 27-year-old will miss at least the next two weeks and is eligible to return on September 23. He owns a 10-7 record with a 3.91 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts across 145 innings in 2022. Milwaukee recalled Trevor Kelley recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Fantasy managers with an IL spot should continue to stash Lauer.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer (elbow) received some good news after undergoing an MRI on his strained left elbow on Thursday. Lauer left his Wednesday start early, but said the early read was "encouraging" and that he'll undergo more tests on Friday after having another meeting with his doctor. It's still to be determined if the positive attitude means he'll avoid a long-term injury or just avoid an IL stint, but we should get more clarity of his situation on Friday or Saturday after more scans are completed. Lauer has pitched to a serviceable 3.91 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 10 wins and 138 K through 145 IP, and would be a tough loss to the rotation with teammate Freddy Peralta heading back to the IL.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Eric Lauer (elbow) left his start early on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies with left elbow tightness, according to the team. It was a rough day for Lauer, as he coughed up seven runs on six hits while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings before departing with his injury. The 27-year-old was probably hindered by his arm in the short amount of time he was in the game, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to make his next start or even return at all in the final month of the regular season as the Brewers attempt to land a wild-card spot. Heading into his start on Wednesday, Lauer was 10-6 with a 3.54 ERA (4.63 FIP), a 1.22 WHIP, 134 strikeouts and 51 walks in 142 1/3 frames over his 25 starts.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer earned his eighth win of the season Friday night, throwing seven strong innings against the lowly Cincinnati Reds. Lauer gave up just one run on six hit and three walks with four strikeouts. He now has a 3.59 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 111 strikeouts in 112 2/3 innings across 20 starts this season. Other than a troublesome June in which Lauer posted a 6.83 ERA, he's been a revelation. Fantasy managers can count on Lauer as a strong anchor in the rotation.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer tossed seven strong innings on Saturday, but settled for a no-decision as his club fell to the Giants 2-1. The southpaw allowed just one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four in the 108-pitch effort with the only run coming off a Darin Ruf homer in the sixth. After a superb start followed by an underwhelming June, Lauer has turned his play back up a notch with four earned runs allowed over 18 IP so far in July. On the season, he sits with a respectable 3.64 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 100 K through 96 1/3 heading into the All-Star break.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer ended his slump on the mound on Monday, throwing six innings of one-run baseball against the Chicago Cubs. He struck out nine, walked two and allowed two hits. Lauer's club won 5-2, but he didn't factor into the decision. The left-hander now owns a 6-3 record, 3.84 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP with 89 strikeouts over 84.1 innings. From June 11 until his Monday's outing, he accumulated an 8.31 ERA across four games, so it was an important rebound start. When Lauer's on, fantasy managers should be starting him in every format.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer was not efficient in Tuesday's 8-7 loss to the Cubs. Lauer needed 89 pitches to get through 4 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (including a solo home run) and three walks with six strikeouts. The 26-year-old has been surprisingly strong in his first nine starts, compiling a 2.49 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 15 walks over 50 2/3 IP. He will look to pitch deeper into his next start at home against a scuffling Padres lineup.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer didn't have the stuff he's shown all season, walking four batters with just one strikeout in five innings of work Thursday. However, it was enough for him to earn the win, giving up two runs on four hits. Lauer has been very impressive so far in 2022, posting a 2.31 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and a 5-1 record. He's also posted a career-high 29.4% strikeout rate, 5.5% higher than his previous best. All signs point to sustainable numbers for Lauer, so fantasy managers shouldn't be discouraged by his most recent outing.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer had seemingly no issues against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The left-hander went six shutout innings and struck out a career-high 13 batters. Sadly, Lauer didn't get the win in this contest as the Brewers didn't score a run until the ninth inning. The 26-year-old has a 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 23/4 K/BB through three starts this season. He'll look to continue working his magic against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer picked up his first win of the season in Monday's 6-1 win over the Pirates. Lauer pitched 6 innings, allowing one run on five hits (including a solo home run) and a walk with five strikeouts. The 26-year-old now has a 3.48 ERA with 10 strikeouts and three walks across his first two starts of the season and 10 1/3 IP. Lauer was a useful back-end fantasy option last season and looks like he could be again this season, at least in favorable matchups. His next matchup is slated to be a tougher one against the Giants at home. Rostered in just 17 percent of leagues, Lauer may be worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues, especially if he can turn in a decent start against a tougher matchup.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that left-hander Eric Lauer (groin) is "full go" after being scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start against the White Sox on Tuesday. His groin injury is considered minor, and he was able to throw a side session on Wednesday. The 26-year-old owned a 7-5 record with a 3.19 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts over 118 2/3 innings in 2021. Lauer agreed to a one-year, $2.425 million contract to avoid arbitration on Tuesday, and his groin issue isn't expected to keep him out for the team's opening series against the Chicago Cubs.