The mystery behind Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer's fat lip. Was it actually a teammate?
Eric Lauer
pitched one of the best games of his career Thursday night. And he did it with a fat lip.
Lauer has been around, and doesn't light up the radar gun, but the Jays rotation would be lost without him.
Lauer has been around, and doesn't light up the radar gun, but the Jays rotation would be lost without him.
The 30-year-old left-hander, the junior member of the
Toronto Blue Jays'
veteran pitching rotation, threw eight innings of walk-free five-hitter, allowing only one run, in a
series-opening 11-4 win
over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park that propelled the Jays into sole possession of first place overall in the American League. But after the game, the first question was about the fat lip.
'I knew that was coming,' smiled Lauer. 'So, there's kind of this, like, known thing not to mess with (Max) Scherzer on his start days, especially when he has his headphones in, and I broke that rule. I tried to talk to him a little too early. He wasn't very happy about that, so six stitches is what you get for that.'
There is little to no chance that, despite his well-known intensity, Scherzer actually slugged Lauer for talking to him too early on a start day, but for now, this is what the southpaw would have us believe.
As he walked away from the scrum after talking about his and his team's great performance, I asked Lauer if we were really supposed to believe that Scherzer actually punched him in the face. He flashed a wry smile and shrugged his shoulders.
Eric Lauer explains his fat lip postgame.
Yeesh.
pic.twitter.com/XTPvWhP4Nk
We have learned two things from Lauer's explanation of his fat lip: Being in first place seems to be a lot of fun and lefties continue to be weird.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tigers get 41-year-old Charlie Morton in deal with Orioles: Trade details
Charlie Morton, the two-time World Series winner who turned around his season after a grim five-start beginning, was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. Morton, 41, played a crucial role in World Series championships won by the Houston Astros in 2017 and Atlanta Braves in 2021. He posted a 5.42 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP for the Orioles in 23 appearances, including 17 starts. Yet those numbers don't tell the story of a season in which Morton was removed from the rotation after five starts, his ERA at 10.89. Since making mechanical tweaks that earned his way back into the rotation, Morton is 7-1 with a 3.62 ERA. Morton is earning $15 million this season and has a little less than $5 million remaining on his deal. He can be a free agent after this season. This will be the seventh team Morton's pitched for in his 18-year career. Charlie Morton trade details The Tigers will receive Charlie Morton in the trade, and the Orioles' return is not yet known. Charlie Morton contract Charlie Morton is making $15 million in 2025 and is a free agent at the end of the season. This story was updated to include new information
New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
Tigers swing deal hoping Charlie Morton, 41, still has more in the tank
DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers got a starting pitcher, and it is 41-year-old Charlie Morton. The right-hander has endured a fascinating year, going 0-7 with an 8.35 ERA in his first 11 starts with the Baltimore Orioles. Since then, though, Morton has shown signs of life, including a five-start stretch in June where he had a 2.88 ERA. Advertisement It is not yet known what the Orioles got back in the trade. Signed on a one-year, $15 million deal (the same money the Tigers gave Alex Cobb, who has yet to pitch this season due to injury), Morton is a veteran of 18 major-league seasons. He should give the Tigers what could prove to be needed rotation depth, joining a staff that already features Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty and recent trade acquisition Chris Paddack. Adding Morton to the mix could allow rookie Troy Melton to move to a swingman role or the bullpen. Keider Montero can also remain an on-call option in Triple A. Three months ago, Morton seemed more likely to be released than traded to a playoff contender. The Orioles dumped him into the bullpen at the end of April. Given his age, it seemed that time had finally caught up to Morton and his days as a viable big-league starter were over. But Morton pitched pretty well in a long relief role and moved back into the rotation on May 26. He's been excellent ever since. His 94 mph fastball velocity remains the same as ever, and he continues to throw a ton of curveballs (that pitch has been a staple in the later stages of his career). He's still striking out more than a batter per inning. The second-oldest player in the Major Leagues behind Justin Verlander, Morton made his big-league debut in 2008 with the Atlanta Braves. (Chipper Jones was still on the team and Bobby Cox was still the manager.) Traded the next season, Morton truly established himself through seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates before becoming an All-Star with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. He returned to the Braves in 2021 and averaged 31 starts per season from ages 37 to 40 before signing a one-year deal with the Orioles this offseason. Morton has 80 innings of postseason experience, pitching to a 3.60 ERA and winning two championships, most recently with the Braves in 2021. (Photo of Charlie Morton: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
Carlos Correa is reuniting with the Astros after a trade with the Twins: Reports
Carlos Correa is returning to Houston, giving the Astros a huge — and familiar — boost after they reacquired the shortstop from the Minnesota Twins just before Thursday's trade deadline, according to a person with direct knowledge. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. Additional terms of the deal weren't immediately available. ESPN confirmed news of the deal. Correa spent his first seven years in Houston, where he became one of the most beloved players in franchise history, helping the team to six playoff appearances, three American League pennants and its first World Series title in 2017 — a title tainted by a sign-stealing scandal. The top pick in the 2012 amateur draft and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year was part of the homegrown core that helped the Astros go from the league's laughingstock to perennial contenders. Correa has exclusively played shortstop in his 11-year MLB career but will almost certainly move to third base for the AL West leaders with shortstop Jeremy Peña close to returning from the injured list. The Astros need help at third base with All-Star Isaac Paredes out indefinitely with a hamstring injury. Charismatic and an unquestioned leader in the clubhouse, Correa could help galvanize a team that has managed to remain atop the division standings despite dealing with multiple injuries to both its lineup and pitching staff.
