Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Eric Lauer addressed reporters on June 16, 2026, following a Dodgers win over the Tampa Bay Rays, discussing mechanical progress, a conversation with manager Doc, and a shift in his early-inning approach.
Lauer said during the press conference that he had identified a recurring problem with his starts. "I've kind of been having an issue with, you know, shooting myself in the foot early in games," he said. After the outing, he and Doc reached a shared conclusion about how to address it. "I had a good conversation with Doc after and, you know, I think we kind of came to the conclusion that you got to have that kind of like closer mentality early in the game and, you know, make sure I'm foot on the gas the whole time."
Lauer noted that trusting the Dodgers' defense has been central to his ability to attack the strike zone. "It just gives you all the confidence in the world to be over the plate and make sure that, you know, you're making good pitches, cuz you know if it's put in play, there's a good chance they're getting out," he explained. He also praised a specific defensive play in which Rushie stayed composed through a chaotic moment — a baserunner ran in front of Rushie to retrieve a bat — and still completed an on-target throw and tag to record the out.
On the velocity front, Lauer stated that small mechanical adjustments have been the driver of his uptick in fastball speed. "It's something that I was definitely working on," he added, describing the gains as the result of deliberate refinement since joining the Dodgers organization. He believes the payoff extends beyond the fastball itself: "If I can get that extra mile an hour or two, I think it makes my fastball have that much more life to it and then it also gives me that extra deception on everything else."
Lauer acknowledged that his four starts with the Dodgers have shown a positive trend. "When you look at the four starts here, obviously the results have been better," he mentioned, adding: "Mechanically I feel way more synced up. I feel like, you know, my arm's in a good place." He stated that his plan going forward is to carry the closer mentality into every inning from the opening pitch rather than waiting to see how a game develops.