Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Back in lineup for Game 2
Rotowire
Lukes (knee) will start in right field and bat second Monday in Game 2 of the ALCS versus the Mariners.
Lukes had to be lifted from Game 1 on Sunday after fouling a ball off his right knee. X-rays and a CT scan came back negative, and the 31-year-old is feeling well enough to give it a go Monday as the Blue Jays look to even the series.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Avoids major injury
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Lukes (knee) underwent X-rays and a CT scan, which came back negative, during Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALCS, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes exited the contest in the fourth inning after he fouled a ball of his right knee earlier in the game, but he appears to have avoided a major injury. The team is expected to see how the 31-year-old feels Monday, but manager John Schneider explained following Sunday's contest that Lukes will play in Game 2 if he's able, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Dealing with knee contusion
Rotowire
Lukes was diagnosed with a right knee contusion Sunday and will undergo further evaluation.
Lukes was forced out of Game 1 of the ALCS in the fourth inning after he fouled a ball off his right knee in the first frame. It's unclear how long he may be sidelined, but if he's forced to miss any action moving forward, Myles Straw may be asked to step into a starting role for Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Exits early Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes (knee) exited Sunday's contest against the Mariners in the fourth inning, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Lukes fouled a ball off his right knee in the bottom of the first inning, ultimately drawing a walk in his first at-bat of the day. The 31-year-old was able to remain in the game initially, but Myles Straw ended up replacing him in right field in the top of the fourth.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Taking seat against southpaw
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup Sunday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
With southpaw Max Fried toeing the rubber for New York, the left-handed-hitting Lukes will retreat to the bench after he went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Toronto's 10-1 win in Game 1. Myles Straw will spell Lukes in right field for Game 2.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
With lefty Ian Seymour on the bump for Tampa Bay, Lukes will head to the bench along with fellow lefty-hitting regular Andres Gimenez. Toronto will turn to Myles Straw in left field in Lukes' stead.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Wallops 12th long ball
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Friday's 4-2 victory over the Rays.
The Toronto outfielder carried his team's offense, posting his third performance with three or more RBI this season. The highlight of Lukes' evening was a 399-foot, two-run shot off Tampa Bay starter Adrian Houser in the fifth to give the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead they never conceded. Through 432 total plate appearances, Luke is now slashing .254/.322/.406 with 55 runs scored and 64 RBI over 133 games.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Exiting starting nine
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Ian Seymour toeing the rubber, the left-handed-hitting Lukes will hit the bench after he started in right field in both of the first two contests of the series. Addison Barger will shift from third base to cover right field in Lukes' stead Wednesday.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On bench versus righty
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Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Since the beginning of September, Lukes has produced a .485 OPS over nine games, and his downturn in productivity could result in him moving into more of a part-time role over the final two weeks of the season. The left-handed-hitting outfielder will be on the bench for the second time in the series, despite the fact that the Orioles are sending a righty (Albert Suarez) to the hill.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Lukes is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
It's southpaw Trevor Rogers on the hill for the Orioles, so the left-handed-swinging Lukes will take a seat. The Blue Jays are going with Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and George Springer in the outfield for the series opener.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Lukes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Lukes had started in each of the Blue Jays' past 15 games, and since he's gone just 2-for-19 over the last five of those contests, manager John Schneider likely decided that Wednesday was an opportune time to give the outfielder a breather. With Lukes on the bench, Ty France will enter the starting nine at first base and will bat seventh.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Collects two RBI
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Lukes went 2-for-5 with a two-run double in Sunday's win over Milwaukee.
Lukes put the Blue Jays on the board early with a two-run double in the first inning. He produced his third multi-hit performance over his last six appearances. Lukes has gone 8-for-23 (.348) during that span. The 31-year-old outfielder is slashing .259/.333/.411 with 27 extra-base hits and 55 RBI through 340 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On bench against lefty
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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
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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
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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: Hits homer in win
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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: 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.
