The Toronto Blue Jays never imagined they'd be relying on Eric Lauer this heavily—and it's showing.

Sunday marked the second time in recent weeks that Toronto used an opener ahead of Lauer, a clear sign of the team's lack of confidence in the left-hander. Lauer hasn't hidden his frustration with the arrangement, but the truth is, he hasn't given the Blue Jays much reason to trust him with a larger role.

After a promising 2025 campaign, 2026 has been a completely different story. Lauer's ERA sits at a bloated 6.69, and it's no fluke. He's been hit hard nearly every time he steps on the mound, leaving the Blue Jays desperate for their injured rotation arms to return.

The writing was on the wall long before the season started. Toronto took Lauer to arbitration over just $1.1 million—a clear signal they wanted to minimize his financial commitment. They then loaded up on starting pitching depth, signing 42-year-old Max Scherzer alongside Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, all with the intention of keeping Lauer out of the rotation entirely.

The Blue Jays envisioned their pitching staff as a strength this season. Lauer was never supposed to be a central figure in that plan.

But injuries have a way of rewriting even the best-laid blueprints. With Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Scherzer all sidelined, Toronto has been forced to turn to Lauer far more than they ever wanted. And so far, the results are as painful as the team feared.

Lauer's roster spot is hanging by a thread. The uncertainty around when those injured stars will return leaves the Blue Jays in a tough spot—but one thing is clear: Toronto saw this coming long before the first pitch of 2026. They just never wanted to be proven right like this.