AL East: Sticking out like a sore thumb

Toronto Blue Jays

The emergence of Eric Lauer has played a key role in the first-place Blue Jays’ surge in the standings. Lauer, who began the year in Triple-A after signing a minor league deal in the offseason, has thrived since joining the Jays’ pitching staff in late April (51 IP, 2.65 ERA, 17.7 K-BB%). Since Bowden Francis landed on the IL in mid-June, Lauer’s usage has shifted from a combination of starts and long-relief appearances to a true starter workload, and he has continued to thrive (4 GS, 20.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 21.2 K-BB%).

With Lauer seemingly set in the rotation for now, the biggest question concerning Toronto’s rotation is the health of Max Scherzer. After a nearly three-month-long absence for right thumb...

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