Max Scherzer doesn’t just command the mound—he commands silence, especially on start days. So when Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer showed up postgame with a fat lip and a straight-faced story involving Scherzer’s fists, eyebrows naturally lifted. After all, Scherzer’s pregame glare has sent veterans retreating. But Lauer’s tale? It might be more clubhouse theater than crime scene confession.
We have seen many players on the same team get into a fight, and one of the first that comes to mind is the Jonathan Papelbon-Bryce Harper fight. While that didn’t cause injuries, the fight between Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer did. At least that is what Lauer jokingly told during his press conference.
As reported by Jomboy Media, “Eric Lauer says he had to get six stitches on his lip because he bothered Max Scherzer before his start.” Eric Lauer said, “So, there’s kind of this known thing to not mess with [Max] Scherzer on his start days… I tried to talk to him a little too early… And six stitches is what you get for that.”
Eric Lauer delivered a gem on the mound—and a punchline just as sharp. With a straight face and a fat lip, he blamed Max Scherzer for delivering six stitches. The joke landed perfectly because Scherzer’s fiery game-day reputation makes it oddly believable. When a lefty spins a tale that dramatic, it’s hard not to lean in.
Eric Lauer says he had to get six stitches on his lip because he bothered Max Scherzer before his start pic.twitter.com/p9lcYnEayr
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 25, 2025
But Lauer’s refusal to clarify only added fuel to the curious clubhouse fire. A wry smile, a shrug, and no follow-up turned fiction into semi-plausible folklore. Fans and reporters weren’t sure whether to laugh or look for camera footage. It’s easy to doubt a story—but harder to doubt Scherzer’s temper.
Whether Lauer was protecting a secret or perfecting a stand-up routine, we may never know. What’s certain is that timing a joke as well as a fastball is an underrated skill. In a league where every bruise gets analyzed, Lauer gave us mystery, mischief, and maybe a little misdirection. One thing’s clear: if Scherzer did hit him, Lauer’s lucky it wasn’t with a fastball.
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