Blue Jays News: Eric Lauer recalled from Triple-A as pitching shuffle continues

The Toronto Blue Jays added a key impact bat to their lineup yesterday in the form of Daulton Varsho.

They're hoping a new pitching addition ends up helping the team break out of its funk.

The Blue Jays recalled Eric Lauer from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He'll either work as the bulk man in Toronto's game against the Red Sox.

Varsho's addition on the roster didn't end up being enough to help the Blue Jays pick up a win yesterday as they lost 10-2 to the Boston Red Sox. They're now 13-16 and have dropped two of their last 10 games.

They'll get a chance to turn things around today tonight behind opener Yariel Rodríguez and Lauer as the bulk man.

First pitch for today's game is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EDT, and will be available to stream on Sportsnet.

Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Boston Red Sox, April 30

Probable starting pitchers

Yariel Rodríguez (0-0, 4.63 ERA, 9 K) vs. Lucas Giolito

Today's game features a matchup between two pitchers making this season debuts.

While Rodríguez is getting the start for the Blue Jays, he'll be working as the opener ahead of Lauer and will likely only go one or two innings.

The Blue Jays are doing this because Bowden Francis only managed to go three innings in yesterday's loss to the Red Sox.

Lauer opened his MLB career with the San Diego Padres, where he tallied a 4.40 ERA in 261 2/3 innings before being traded to the Breers in 2019 in exchange for Trent Grisham.

He had two solid seasons with the Padres in 2021 (3.19 ERA) and '22 (3.69), but posted an ERA above six in 2023 which led to Milwaukee letting him go. He joined the KBO in 2024 and helped the Kia Tigers win a Korea Series championship, which he parlayed into a spring training invite with the Blue Jays.

He allowed five runs in eight innings of work with Toronto in the spring. He had a 4.50 ERA in 24 innings in Triple-A this season.

Lauer will either start the game or work the middle innings behind an opener.

Giolito will be making his first start with the Red Sox after he signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal with Boston ahead of the 2024 season. He missed all of last year after sustaining an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during spring training. The injury resulted in him undergoing an internal brace procedure.

He entered spring training healthy this year, but suffered a low grade left hamstring strain that resulted in him missing the first month of the season.

He allowed 10 runs in 17 1/3 innings in his five rehab starts and allowed 13 walks with 17 strikeouts.

Gioltio's last appearance came on Oct. 1, 2023 when he was with the Cleveland Guardians.

He was one of the best pitchers in MLB from 2019 to 2021 when he had a 3.47 ERA in 72 starts. He was an All-Star in 2019 and threw a no-hitter against the Pirates in 2020.

His numbers took a bit of a dip in 2022, and he bounced around in 2023. The Angels acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline before putting him on waivers after six starts, where he was scooped by Cleveland.

Bo Bichette's had some success against Giolito in his career, as he's hit .357 with a home run against him in 14 at-bats.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, April 30

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 3. DH Anthony Santander
• 4. LF Geroge Springer
• 5. CF Daulton Varsho
• 6. C Alejandro Kirk
• 7. RF Addison Barger
• 8. 3B Ernie Clement
• 9. 2B Andrés Giménez

The top of the Blue Jays' lineup doesn't have any changes, so it's fair to assume that this is how things will look on the daily with Varsho in the fold.

This is the first time that Giménez has hit at the No. 9 spot in the order, but it makes sense considering he's only hitting .171 on the year.