Is Eric Lauer A Starting Pitcher?
Yes. Eric Lauer was a relaibel pitcher.
Lauer’s Fastballs, 2021
Pitch Type | Pitch% | MPH | BA | xBA | wOBA | xwOBA | Whiff% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FA | 43.9% | 92.6 | .250 | .217 | .325 | .304 | 26.5% |
FC | 18.3% | 90.3 | .256 | .253 | .343 | .337 | 22.4% |
Eric Lauer pitched 118.2 innings for Milwaukee in 2021, with a 3.19 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 117:41 K: BB ratio.
With so much focus on the Milwaukee Brewers’ three-headed monster, it’s easy to overlook Eric Lauer’s great year in 2021. In 118.2 innings as a starter, he struck out a career-high 23.9 percent of batters and had a dazzling 3.19 ERA.
![Lauer shines as Brewers roll to 10-0 blowout of Phillies](https://gray-weau-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/oMOID3Xipcym4pxJO0xbgwVWp-Q=/1200x675/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QFB7SV62ENGRJDI6BIJERQEFBA.jpg)
Though Lauer does not have the elite upside of his Brewers’ rotation compatriots, the modifications he made to his windup and stuff in 2021 have him on track for another good season.
Lauer was the 25th overall pick in the 2016 Draft, and he came to Milwaukee with Luis Urias in the Trent Grisham and Zach Davies trade to San Diego.
Lauer’s 2020 was cut short by a shoulder injury, as he only tossed 11 innings and had a 13.09 ERA. He recovered in time for the 2021 season, and the Brewers set about retooling their southpaw.
When Lauer returned to gameplay in late April 2021, he made some tweaks to his windup. As a starter in San Diego, Lauer’s arm path was quite long; by 2021, he had significantly reduced it to protect his shoulder.
He also altered his posture on the rubber, practically pulling himself out of the stretch. Finally, his back leg was bent more at the peak of his leg kick, placing him in a more athletic position to drive off.
His improved mechanics were more precise and consistent:
Lauer’s four-seamer and cutter improved once he straightened up his windup. Despite the fact that the Brewers’ pitching coach’s name is Chris Hook, the organization has recently had great success in helping pitchers improve their fastballs.
When Brandon Woodruff unlocked his sinker, he went off, Corbin Burnes used his characteristic cutter, and Freddy Peralta built his repertoire around a dominant four-seamer.
In 2021, Lauer joined the party, improving his four-velocity seamer’s by one mile per hour and his cutter’s velocity by three miles per hour over 2020.
He also added two and a half inches of horizontal break to his cutter by throwing it with additional cut.