MINNEAPOLIS – A Change of Heart for Eric Lauer

Eric Lauer shared that he “hated” pitching behind the opener when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays. So, what did the Dodgers have him do on Monday? Naturally, he pitched behind the opener again. But this time, things turned out differently.

Lauer stepped in for starting pitcher Will Klein and delivered an impressive six no-hit innings against the Minnesota Twins, leading to a 2-1 victory.

He continued through to the seventh inning, wrapping up the game with solo home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, which helped secure the Dodgers’ lead.

Before the match, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had expressed his full commitment to the strategy of using Lauer behind Klein. Post-series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, Roberts discussed the plan with Lauer. “We just laid it out,” he recounted. “He took it very well. Every player wants some clarity. I think he’ll be ready from the second inning, so he can keep a consistent rhythm.”

Ironically, the initial hiccup in the plan came from the first inning when Byron Buxton, batting second, hit a home run that tied the game at 1-1.

What It Means

This game presented potential challenges for the Dodgers. Kyle Tucker walked in the second inning and, after advancing on Tommy Edman’s single, looked visibly uncomfortable at second base. It was later confirmed that Tucker was out of the game due to lower back spasms, marking a significant setback for a player currently batting .234 in his first 75 games with the team.

Tucker wasn’t the only casualty. After one inning, catcher Dalton Rushing was replaced by rookie Chucky Robinson due to concerns over a possible concussion after getting a foul tip into his mask.

Who Is Hot

Right-hander Brock Stewart has recently returned from the disabled list, potentially bolstering a bullpen that has been coping with Blake Treinen’s elbow issues. Stewart has pitched only 5 2/3 innings since arriving from the Twins last year and saw limited action this season before being sidelined by a bone spur.

Who Is Not?

Just a day after Roberts revised the team’s hitting strategy, Ohtani kickstarted the game with his 17th home run of the season. However, the Dodgers struggled to score again until the sixth inning, when Freeman hit a homer off Twins’ starter Zebby Matthews, who had a 4.78 ERA but managed to hold the Dodgers to six hits and two runs in six innings, collecting five strikeouts along the way.

To the Next

Tomorrow, the Dodgers will face the Twins again in the second game of their three-game series at Target Field. Justin Robleski (8-2, 2.72) will be on the mound for the Dodgers, while Joe Ryan (5-3, 2.99) will pitch for the Twins.