Lauer taking 'big step forward' in 2021

MILWAUKEE -- The shortened 2020 season went about as poorly as possible for Eric Lauer, but the left-hander has pitched well enough so far in '21 to earn more starts in the second half as the Brewers push for a pennant.

Lauer turned in his third straight quality start in Friday’s 2-0 loss to Wade Miley and the Reds at American Family Field, departing after six innings with a one-run deficit after holding Cincinnati to one run on four hits as National League Central-leading Milwaukee reached the 90-game plateau with a 53-37 record.

Over his last three starts against the Rockies, Pirates and Reds, Lauer has allowed two earned runs on 10 hits in 18 1/3 innings, with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts. Less quantifiable is how Lauer’s presence over nine starts has helped keep the Brewers’ other starters fresh as the team navigates the tricky jump from 60 regular-season games a year ago to 162 games this year.

Effective outings from Lauer have allowed the Brewers to employ a six-man rotation, giving All-Stars Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes extra rest, especially during stretches like the 33 games in 34 days the team is currently on.

Off-days early in the second half offer some room for creativity, but generally speaking, the Brewers intend to proceed with six starters, manager Craig Counsell said Friday.

“As of now, we have six starters who we feel like are throwing the ball well,” Counsell said. “I think it’s helping our starting pitching, not only keeping them healthy, but I also think it’s helping them perform. So at this point, we’ll look to continue that.”

What’s been working for Lauer lately?

“Just a good mix mostly,” he said. “We’ve been working both sides of the plate well, pitching up, mixing speeds. Keeping guys off balance is the most important thing for me. I think we’ve done a good job of that. Me and the catchers have been communicating well.”

Last year didn’t go as smoothly. Picked up in an offseason trade with the Padres, along with infielder Luis Urías, Lauer missed time in Spring Training with a shoulder injury, then was sidelined at the start of Summer Camp because he’d been in contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. He made only two starts and two relief appearances for the Brewers and was charged with 16 earned runs in 11 innings.

Through 56 1/3 big league innings this season, Lauer’s ERA is 3.83.

“He's definitely taken a step forward this year, a big step forward after last year,” Counsell said. “He's gotten into a groove taking the ball every five days and giving us a chance to win, consistently.”

The Brewers were shut out into the ninth inning by old friend Miley, who thwarted a Crew threat in the fifth with an athletic play on Lauer’s bunt. Miley then doubled and scored an insurance run for the Reds in the seventh against Milwaukee rookie reliever Miguel Sánchez.

The Brewers mounted another threat against Miley in the eighth, when the energy of the home crowd was turned up a few notches. There were disputed pitches during Urías’ at-bat to open the inning, a call against Willy Adames for violating the slide rule on a Christian Yelich grounder that became an inning-ending double play, and then more frustration in the ninth inning when, with a runner at second base and Miley out of the game in favor of reliever Heath Hembree, Jace Peterson was called out on a strike three that appeared off the plate.

“No one's perfect, but we definitely felt like we had the bat taken out of our hands a little bit tonight,” Peterson said.

The Brewers still have two games remaining before the All-Star break. Freddy Peralta on Saturday and Woodruff on Sunday will each be working with that extra day of rest that Lauer’s presence affords.

“He's been terrific,” Peterson said. “Good tempo on the mound. He's making pitches. He's in control out there. He's calm. He's doing what we need him to do, and when we're playing behind him, we know we're going to get a good outing. It's been impressive. He's been big for us. He's coming up huge for us and hopefully we can keep it rolling.”