Without Scherzer, Blue Jays getting creative with Lauer, 'pen

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Blue Jays may be waiting for Max Scherzer to return to the rotation. But they’re not waving a white flag every fifth day. In fact, manager John Schneider and his staff might be doing some of their best work during those Scherzer-less ballgames.

Addison Barger and George Springer homered on Friday as the Blue Jays overcame an early three-run deficit to beat the Twins, 6-4, at Target Field.

Toronto used six pitchers on the night, with starter Paxton Schultz giving up three runs in two innings.

It was a loud first time through the order, as four of the first nine Twins batters hit balls with exit velocities of more than 100 mph. But Eric Lauer (2-1) came on and threw ice water on the Twins’ bats, keeping them at bay while the offense rallied for the win.

Lauer was the key to the six-man band on the mound Friday night, but credit Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker for pushing the right buttons at the right times.

Asked if he embraced the challenge of a bullpen game, Schneider laughed and said, “When it works out, it’s fun. I think you have to, and I think the guys in the ‘pen have embraced it too.”

Rather than just holding their breath and crossing off days on the calendar until Scherzer’s return, the Blue Jays have taken advantage of their bullpen weapons to find the right approach every fifth day.

“It’s the hand we’re dealt right now, and we’re looking forward to Max getting back,” Schneider said. “But I think you kinda have to lean into it and try to do what’s best each time through the order.”

Lauer tossed 2 1/3 innings of one-hit, one-walk ball before Mason Fluharty and Yariel Rodríguez each got four outs without giving up a hit. The plan then hit a snag in the eighth when Brendon Little got into a big jam.

Trailing by three, the Twins put runners on the corners with nobody out in the eighth. Little then struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Jeffers looking and fanned Brooks Lee swinging before Royce Lewis singled to make it 6-4.

With the tying run on first base, Kody Clemens hit a smash right at first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the third out.

“Little has the ability to strike guys out. If they hit there for Clemens, [Chad Green] was coming in,” Schneider said. “But kinda just taking the risk that he’s got the swing-and-miss stuff to get you out of the inning, and he did.”

Jeff Hoffman walked one and struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 14th save of the season and cap a strong night for a diverse group of relievers.

Lauer, who had started 112 of his 120 career appearances before joining the Blue Jays as a free agent in the offseason, has carried much of the load when the fifth starter’s turn has come up. But he’s doing it mostly as a reliever, meaning at age 30 he’s still finding new things to learn every day, like how to manage your intensity and focus every day rather than just every fifth day.

“​​When to turn it on, and when to turn it off and how to do that, it’s really hard,” Lauer said. “Because as a starter you turn it on, and then you keep it on for as long as you can, one day out of the week. But down [in the bullpen], they’re on-off-on-off and they can do it with such precision and ease that when they’re not in the game … the ability to flip that switch, it’s really cool to watch.”

Lauer threw four scoreless innings against the Phillies on Tuesday, so coming back three days later to provide important innings is another new trick the old dog is mastering.

“It was definitely something I don’t think I’ve ever done before,” Lauer said. “If I had been going off a starter routine, today would be like a bullpen day for me anyway, so I was kind of treating it like I’m getting an extended bullpen in-game. I was pleasantly surprised with how I felt today.”

It’s safe to say his manager appreciates the effort.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” Schneider said. “It wasn’t an ideal start today, getting down three, but he’s been really, really good. He can pitch, and I think tonight was just another example of that.”