With a record of 27-19, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the National League Central Division. They still lead the Chicago Cubs, managed by Craig Counsell, by two games despite dropping two of their last three games against the Houston Astros. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds by six, seven, and eight and a half games, respectively.
With all of the losses to their starting rotation, it is simply astounding that the Brewers have managed to take and maintain first place in the division. Naturally, top player Corbin Burnes was traded prior to spring training, while Brandon Woodruff’s shoulder injury kept him out of the 2024 campaign.
Since then, ailments to their own bodies have kept starting pitchers Wade Miley, Jakob Junis, and DL Hall out of action. Tommy John surgery was necessary to treat Miley’s most recent elbow issue, which also ended his season.
Many fans speculated that the organization could attempt to re-sign left-handed starter Eric Lauer, who just opted out of his contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, given the number of injuries to their starting rotation. But that’s no longer an option.
Pitcher Eric Lauer, formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers, signs with the Houston Astros
The Astros and Lauer have reached an agreement on a minor league contract for the balance of the season, according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Lauer’s compensation is set to be prorated to reflect each time he is called up to the Major Leagues ($1.5 million).
If Lauer is not on the Big League team by July 1st and August 1st, Adams points out that he has opt-out dates.
According to Adams, there was an intriguing connection between Lauer and the Astros before they signed: in 2013, Dana Brown, the general manager of Houston, was employed by the Toronto Blue Jays’ scouting division. That was the year Lauer was selected by the Jays in the high school draft.
Naturally, Lauer decided to attend college instead, and three years later, the San Diego Padres selected him in the first round.
Before Pittsburgh released him, Lauer had a 5.52 ERA in eight games (six starts) for their Triple-A affiliate, going 2-2.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Time with Eric Lauer
Lauer was originally acquired by the Brewers in the transaction that sent Zach Davies and Trent Grisham to the San Diego Paders, along with Luis Urias.
Lauer was 22–20 with a 4.22 ERA in four seasons with Milwaukee. His greatest seasons occurred in 2021 and 2022, when it appeared that he may develop into a top player in the rotation going forward. He was 7–5 with a 3.19 ERA in 2021, however he missed significant time because of an injury.
Lauer went 11-7 in 2022 with a decent 3.69 ERA in 29 starts. However, Lauer had a very difficult season. With a terrible 6.56 ERA in just 10 games (nine starts) for Milwaukee, he finished 4-6.
Regretfully, he didn’t do much better in Triple-A Nashville. He had a 5.15 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) and went 3-4.
A Fascinating Coincidence involving the Milwaukee Brewers
As was previously established, the Brewers first acquired Lauer and Luis Urias. It’s interesting to note that Milwaukee called up Bradley Blalock, whom they obtained from the Boston Red Sox last season in exchange for Urias, on the same day that Lauer signed with Houston, who had just finished defeating the Brewers over the weekend.
By coincidence, Lauer moved from the Pirates to the Astros, the Brewers’ final two opponents prior to the start of their Miami series.