When Roki Sasaki landed on the injured list with a blister on his right middle finger, the Dodgers needed a rotation fill-in. Eric Lauer got the call — and not for a spot start on a fringe team. This is a rotation slot with the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball's marquee franchises, at a moment when Tyler Glasnow and potentially Shohei Ohtani are also working their way back into the fold.
Lauer made his first turn in that role on Wednesday, August 26, facing the Braves. The results were modest — two innings, one earned run, one strikeout — but the context matters more than the box score. A lefty carving out space in a crowded, high-profile rotation in late August is a meaningful opportunity, and Lauer's 4.78 ERA heading into the start reflects a season of uneven but serviceable work. The assignment itself signals that the Dodgers see him as capable of handling the moment.
For Kent State fans, the image of a Golden Flash wearing Dodger blue in a pennant-race rotation is a moment worth savoring. Lauer has bounced between organizations and roles over the course of his career, making this kind of high-visibility opportunity a genuine milestone.
Rangers Bullpen Leans on Latz
While Lauer was headlining, fellow Kent State alum Jacob Latz quietly turned in another reliable outing for the Texas Rangers. On Sunday, August 23, Latz worked a clean inning against the Angels — two strikeouts, no runs — and his ERA sits at a sharp 1.68 on the season. The lefty specialist has made himself a trusted piece of the Rangers' bullpen, the kind of unheralked late-inning work that doesn't generate highlights but absolutely wins games.
Two Kent State pitchers, two different roles, one week in August — and both delivering in meaningful situations for contending or competitive rosters. The Golden Flashes' pipeline to professional pitching continues to prove its depth.
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