Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Occupying leadoff spot Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes will start in left field and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Since being reinstated from the injured list Monday, Lukes has gone 7-for-16 with two doubles, two walks, two runs and one RBI. He'll draw his fifth start in seven games, but Lukes may need to continue his hot-hitting ways to ensure he maintains a regular role once Addison Barger (elbow) is ready to come back from the IL. For now, Lukes and Jesus Sanchez look like the Blue Jays' preferred starters in the corner outfield, but Barger's eventual return will create a logjam.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Heading to bench Tuesday
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Lukes is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.
After he was reinstated from the injured list prior to Monday's series opener, Lukes drew the start in center field and went 3-for-4 in Toronto's 8-2 win. Lukes also reached base a fourth time when he was struck on the helmet by a pitch, but manager John Schneider noted that the 31-year-old's absence from the lineup Wednesday isn't related, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Instead, the Blue Jays are simply electing to build in some rest for Lukes, who had been shelved for a month due to a left hamstring strain. Toronto will go with Yohendrick Pinango, Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez as its starters in the outfield from left to right in Tuesday's contest.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Three hits in return
Rotowire
Lukes went 3-for-4 in Monday's loss to the Marlins.
Seeing his first big-league action since late April, Lukes got the start in center field and hit second while Daulton Varsho got a breather. Lukes had been heating up prior to straining his hamstring, and over his last eight games for the Jays he's batting .560 (14-for-25) with four doubles. The 31-year-old should have a regular spot in an outfield corner as Toronto mixes and matches with Jesus Sanchez and Yohendrick Pinango, with Myles Straw also available as a short-side platoon option.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Lukes (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Lukes has been shelved for more than a month with a left hamstring strain but has been cleared to return to the active roster after going 3-for-9 with one home run in four rehab contests. The 31-year-old will likely operate as an active fourth outfielder for Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Could come off IL on Monday
Rotowire
Lukes (hamstring) will travel to Toronto on Monday to determine whether he will be activated off the 10-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes will be in the lineup for Single-A Dunedin over the weekend, and if he's progressed enough in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, then he could be reinstated from the IL for the start of Monday's home series against the Marlins. Yohendrick Pinango or Davis Schneider could be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster once Lukes is cleared to return.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Lukes (hamstring) is scheduled to resume running the bases before the end of this week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes has been ramping up his running progression and could be cleared for a rehab assignment at Single-A Dunedin later this week. He's been sidelined since late April with a left hamstring strain.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Begins running progression
Rotowire
Lukes (hamstring) has begun a running progression, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
It's a big step as he works his way back from a left hamstring strain. Lukes has missed the last two weeks of action and might require a short rehab assignment before returning.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Hitting in cages
Rotowire
Lukes (hamstring) resumed hitting in the batting cages Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The team estimates that Lukes is still about a week away from starting up a running progression, but a return to hitting marks a significant milestone in his recovery from a left hamstring strain. It remains unknown when he'll be cleared to return from the injured list, though a timeline could emerge once he begins running.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Headed for MRI
Rotowire
Lukes will receive an MRI on his left hamstring after leaving Friday's game against Cleveland, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Lukes felt discomfort in his hamstring after hitting a leadoff double in the first inning of Friday's contest, causing him to come out of the game early. Manager John Schneider said after the game that Lukes compared his soreness to that of a cramp, but the Jays will still have him undergo imaging to make sure he isn't dealing with any structural damage. More will be known regarding his injury when the results come back Saturday, and Myles Straw could pick up starts in the outfield if Lukes sits out a game or two.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Stays hot Wednesday
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Angels.
The 31-year-old outfielder has seen his bat come to life since getting on a treatment program for a case of vertigo that had been plaguing him since spring training. Over the last six games, Lukes is batting .500 (10-for-20) with three doubles, three runs and six RBI, and he's taken over the leadoff spot against right-handed pitching. He might lose that role once George Springer (toe) is off the IL, but Lukes should remain near the top of the order against RHP as long as he stays locked in at the plate.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Plates three in win
Rotowire
Lukes went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
The Blue Jays batted around in the first inning, with Lukes opening the onslaught with a single before adding a three-run double in his second at-bat of the inning. This was his second three-hit game in a row after taking a seat Friday in the series opener. He's had largely inconsistent results this season with a .214 average, .506 OPS and no home runs over 45 plate appearances. Lukes has added five RBI, four runs scored, no stolen bases and a 1:6 BB:K. Despite the flaws in his performance, he's been one of several players to fill the leadoff role against right-handed pitchers while George Springer (toe) is on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Helping to fill in for Barger
Rotowire
Lukes will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Lukes will be making his second straight start in right and could end up seeing most of his playing time at that position for the foreseeable future following Addison Barger's (ankle) recent placement on the injured list. The Blue Jays are likely to use Lukes in a platoon, with Myles Straw or Davis Schneider potentially spelling him when the team faces left-handed pitching.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Lukes has a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Rosie DiManno of The Toronto Star reports.
The acquisition of Jesus Sanchez in February put Lukes' job security in question, but the 31-year-old will break camp as part of a crowded outfield that also includes Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Addison Barger and Myles Straw, with Davis Schneider still fighting for the final bench spot as well. Lukes did his part to prove his worth this spring, slashing .333/.468/.417 in 18 Grapefruit League games with a 9:10 BB:K, but his .255/.323/.407 line over 135 regular-season games in 2025 offers a better view of his limited upside at the plate.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Set to platoon in left field
Rotowire
Lukes will likely be on the strong side of a platoon with Davis Schneider in left field to begin the season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
With Anthony Santander (shoulder) potentially set to miss the entire season, the Blue Jays will turn to their collection of role players to fill the gap in the lineup. Lukes has more than held his own against right-handed pitching in the majors, slashing .266/.330/.421 with all 13 of his career homers over 488 plate appearances since 2023.
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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: 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: 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
Rotowire
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.
