Lukes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.
After starting and batting leadoff in each of the Blue Jays' last three games, the left-handed-hitting Lukes will head to the bench for the series finale while the Cubs send lefty Matthew Boyd to the bump. Toronto will roll out an outfield of Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido from left to right in Thursday's contest.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Deposits 10th homer
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Rockies.
Lukes clubbed his 10th homer of the season to put the Blue Jays on the board in the third inning before the offense caught fire to secure a convincing win. The outfielder had been in a 3-for-25 slump over his previous seven games heading into the series, but he's bounced back by going 5-for-8 with three extra-base hits, two RBI and three walks across the first two games against the Rockies.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On base five times in rout
Rotowire
Lukes went 3-for-4 with two walks, two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI in Monday's win over the Rockies.
Getting the start in right field and batting leadoff, Lukes set the table for a 15-1 rout by the Blue Jays. It was his first multi-hit performance since July 25, snapping a 4-for-31 skid, but even during that downturn three of his four hits left the yard. The 31-year-old has more than held his own this year while seeing regular action in the majors for the first time, slashing .258/.348/.410 over 285 plate appearances with nine homers, 39 runs and 44 RBI. However, with Daulton Varsho back patrolling center field, playing time will be a little harder to come by for Lukes once George Springer (concussion) is cleared to return as well.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Swats pinch-hit homer
Rotowire
Lukes went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.
The 31-year-old outfielder had the biggest hit of the afternoon, taking Yennier Cano deep in the seventh inning as he pinch hit for Leo Jimenez before staying in the game to play right field. Lukes has nine homers on the season, but four of them have come in the last eight contests, a stretch in which he's driven in nine runs. Despite his recent display of power, Lukes could get squeezed for playing time when Daulton Varsho (hamstring) comes off the IL this weekend.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Lukes had started each of the Blue Jays' last four games -- including both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader -- so he appears to be getting a routine rest day as Toronto and Baltimore wrap up their series with a matinee contest. Though he's been holding down a regular spot in the Toronto lineup against right-handed pitching since being activated from the 7-day injured list June 20, Lukes could have to vie with fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Joey Loperfido for playing time once Daulton Varsho (hamstring) returns from the 10-day IL.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Socks eighth homer
Rotowire
Lukes went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Orioles.
His third-inning shot off Zach Eflin was the third long ball in the last five games for Lukes, and his eighth of the season. The 31-year-old outfielder was slumping on either side of the All-Star break, going 2-for-21 over an eight-game stretch in the middle of July, but his recent power surge has lifted his slash line on the year back up to .264/.351/.409. He could get squeezed for playing time when Daulton Varsho (hamstring) returns this week to reclaim the starting center field job, but Lukes has made a solid case to remain the primary option in left field over the likes of Joey Loperfido and Davis Schneider.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Hits homer in win
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run home run during Thursday's 11-4 win over the Tigers.
Lukes snapped a four-game hitless stretch and an eight-game streak without an extra-base hit by hitting a double and a two-run home run Thursday. The 31-year-old has just eight doubles and six home runs in 204 at-bats this year, contributing to a slash line of .265/.355/.392.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Lukes went 2-for-9 with an RBI while starting the first two games of the series and will head to the bench for Sunday's finale. Myles Straw will receive the start in center field and bat ninth against San Francisco lefty Robbie Ray.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Swats fifth homer
Rotowire
Lukes went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Monday's win over the White Sox.
He launched back-to-back solo shots with Joey Loperfido off Sean Burke in the fifth inning to break open a 1-1 tie. It was Lukes' first home run since May 21, snapping a 32-game drought, but power isn't the 30-year-old's strong suit -- in 65 games this season, he's slashing .271/.371/.392 with five homers, one steal, 27 runs, 30 RBI and an impressive 25:23 BB:K.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Back on bench
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
With lefty Tyler Anderson on the hill for the Angels, Lukes will head to the bench after three straight starts, opening up center field for Myles Straw. Lukes and Straw will continue to platoon in center until Daulton Varsho (hamstring) is ready to return from the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Three hits to help complete sweep
Rotowire
Lukes went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Yankees.
Getting the start in center field and batting leadoff with Bo Bichette (knee) not quite ready to return, Lukes provided a spark in an 8-5 victory that completed a four-game sweep of the Yankees and launched the Blue Jays into first place in the AL East. The 30-year-old outfielder has been fairly productive since returning from a concussion June 20, batting .286 (10-for-35) in his last 12 games with two doubles, five runs, seven RBI and a 6:4 BB:K. However, Lukes' playing time will likely take a hit once Daulton Varsho (hamstring) is ready to come off the IL, which could happen before the All-Star break.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sitting against righty
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Lukes was on the bench for both of the past two contests while the Blue Jays faced lefties, but his absence from the lineup Wednesday comes while New York sends a right-hander (Will Warren) to the hill. With Lukes sitting again, Toronto will go with a starting outfield of Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and Addison Barger from left to right.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Idle against lefty
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.
The Yankees are sending a lefty starter (Max Fried) to the hill for the second day in a row, and the left-handed-hitting Lukes has found himself on the bench for both those contests. Lukes will once again give way in center field to Myles Straw, who will bat sixth.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Handling regular role
Rotowire
Lukes will start in center field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Since returning from the 7-day injured list June 20, Lukes has re-emerged as a regular in the Toronto lineup, starting in eight of the last nine games. He's gotten on base at a .351 clip this season and is capable of playing all three outfield spots, so Lukes could have a path to regular playing time against right-handed pitching until Daulton Varsho (hamstring) and Anthony Santander (shoulder) are back from the IL.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Back from IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Lukes (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Lukes exited the Blue Jays' win over the Cardinals on June 9 with the injury. With Anthony Santander (shoulder) and Daulton Varsho (hamstring) still out for Toronto, Lukes will vie for playing time in the outfield alongside Addison Barger and George Springer. Lukes is slashing .267/.360/.392 with four home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored and one stolen base across 143 plate appearances this season.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lukes (concussion) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes landed on the 7-day injured list last week, but his concussion symptoms appear to have dissipated. He's slated to play at least a couple games with Buffalo, but a return from the IL for the Blue Jays' series this weekend against the White Sox is possible.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Placed on concussion IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Lukes on the 7-day injured list Wednesday due to a concussion.
Lukes was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's win over the Cardinals with what was described as neck discomfort at the time, but subsequent testing has determined that he is dealing with a concussion. He'll be eligible for activation June 17, but as is the case with all players recovering from concussions, the return timeline can be volatile.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Remains on bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Lukes (neck) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Lukes was scratched from the starting nine ahead of Tuesday's 10-9 win due to neck discomfort, and he'll remain on the bench for the series finale. The Blue Jays haven't indicated whether the left-handed-hitting Lukes' absence has more to do with the neck injury, or because the Cardinals are sending a left-hander (Matthew Liberatore) to the hill. Regardless, Toronto will roll out an outfield of Jonatan Clase, Myles Straw and George Springer from left to right Wednesday.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Scratched with neck injury
Rotowire
Lukes was scratched from the lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Cardinals due to neck discomfort.
The severity of Lukes' injury remains unknown, though it will force him out of at least Tuesday's game. While he sits, Jonatan Clase, Myles Straw and Alan Roden will start across Toronto's outfield.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Though he'll hit the bench against southpaw JP Sears, Lukes should continue to have a clear path to playing time after Daulton Varsho (hamstring) joined Anthony Santander (shoulder) on the injured list Sunday. Lukes has been seeing most of his playing time in the outfield corners of late, but manager John Schneider suggested that he could end up filling the strong side of a platoon in center field with Myles Straw while Varsho is on the shelf, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
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