Dodgers just got up close and personal look at why Blue Jays DFA'd Eric Lauer

Apart from a Hunter Goodman solo homer, Eric Lauer's Dodgers debut was exactly what they needed. He pitched six innings, only gave up the one run, and struck out four. It was the kind of bounce back outing that might've had a few Blue Jays fans in frustrated tears.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers offense broke out. Mookie Betts, moved down to hit cleanup to try to shake him out of his post-IL return funk, hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. He singlehandedly scored five of the Dodgers' eventual 15 runs.

Even with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers didn't need Lauer to be at the very top of his game, which he nearly was on Tuesday night; they just needed him to be good enough. When the offense clicks like it did, their starter doesn't need to be lights out.

Still, it's a huge plus, and a testament to how a Dodgers uniform can have this uncanny way of just transforming a player.

... And then Lauer opened his mouth to speak, which is the thing (or one of the things) that got him in trouble in Toronto in the first place.

After the game, he was asked if he felt that his time on the Dodgers was tenuous, and if he was concerned about pitching well enough to "stick around as long as possible."

Lauer gave a kind of derisive laugh and said, "That's a weird question."

Eric Lauer had a defensive response to a totally fair question from Dodgers reporter

The Blue Jays DFA'ed Lauer because of his 6.69 ERA through eight appearances, yes, but because he didn't like how he was occasionally employed behind an opener. "To be real blunt, I hate it. I can't stand it," he said at the time. "Hopefully it's not something that we will continue doing, but that's above my pay grade."

Let's be clear: he still had a 5.29 ERA as a starter.

It wasn't an unfair question, either. The Dodgers received Lauer and cash for cash or a player to be named later, the hallmarks of an expendable player. There are always the one or two players who manage to buck the trend, but with a roster as competitive and long-contract-laden as the Dodgers', what happens to Lauer when Glasnow and Snell come back? Or even if River Ryan impresses enough in Triple-A to force his way into the conversation?

We'll allow that the reporter who asked the question was getting a little ahead of himself. Snell is still probably months away from return after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies, and Glasnow is experiencing setbacks.

But it's also not a great way to introduce yourself to a new media market.

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