Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Hits first career homer in loss
Rotowire
Lukes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Marlins.
Lukes hit his first career home run in the first inning, but it would be the only offense the Blue Jays could muster. The 30-year-old has impressed in just 91 plate appearances this season, hitting .303 with 10 RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Out of Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Luke is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
Lukes started six of the previous seven games and will take seat Friday after posting a .231/.276/.385 slash line during that span. Jonatan Clase is starting in center field against Tampa Bay lefty Tyler Alexander.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Seeing steady playing time
Rotowire
Lukes will start in right field and bat leadoff in Thursday's game against the Rangers.
The lefty-hitting Lukes was on the bench Wednesday against Rangers southpaw Cody Bradford, but he's otherwise picked up starts in six of the last seven games. Lukes benefited from Joey Loperfido missing two contests with an adductor injury, but the Blue Jays could have regular roles available for both players down the stretch with Daulton Varsho (shoulder) having been shut down for the season. Since his call-up from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 30, Lukes has slashed .356/.423/.511 with no home runs, one stolen base, eight runs and six RBI over 52 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Starting again Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes is starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.
Lukes will start in the outfield for a fourth straight game Sunday, and the 30-year-old has been seeing more playing time while Daulton Varsho has been sidelined due to a sore shoulder. He's gone 3-for-10 with one triple and three runs scored over the first two games of the series against St. Louis. In 10 major-league appearances this season, Lukes is slashing .342/.395/.474 with four RBI across 43 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On base three times Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Twins.
After batting eighth in his first two games of the season following his promotion Friday, Lukes got bumped up to the leadoff spot and showed a keen eye. The 30-year-old appears to be receiving a real look from the Jays and has responded by getting on base eight times in his first 14 plate appearances while seeing action in both outfield corners, but given his age, the rebuilding team may not have a lot of incentive to play Lukes over younger options like Joey Loperfido or Addison Barger down the stretch.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Tallies four hits Saturday
Rotowire
Lukes went 4-for-6 with a double, two runs and two RBI in a 15-0 rout of the Twins on Saturday.
Lukes was one of four Blue Jays with at least three hits in the offensive outburst, and he was part of a massive 11-for-16, seven-RBI performance by the bottom third of Toronto's order. This was just the second major-league game of the season for the 30-year-old, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Lukes earned the promotion by slashing .333/.403/.469 with seven home runs, 31 RBI and four steals over 54 games with Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Returns from 60-day IL
Rotowire
Lukes (thumb) has gone 3-for-8 with a home run and a walk in two games for Triple-A Buffalo since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday.
Lukes underwent a procedure in mid-June to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb, and he's since been cleared to return to action for Buffalo after completing a rehab assignment at Single-A Dunedin. The 30-year-old is slashing .335/.408/.492 with seven home runs and four stolen bases over 201 plate appearances for the Triple-A club this season.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On IL with thumb injury
Rotowire
Lukes was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday with a thumb injury, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The severity of the injury is unclear, but Lukes will be sidelined for at least the next week after he suffered the injury this weekend. The 28-year-old has a .333/.406/.480 slash line through 44 games for Buffalo this season.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Two hits, one run
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-4 with a run during Toronto's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over Tampa Bay on Monday.
It's a small sample, but through 24 spring training at-bats, Lukes is hitting .500. The 29-year-old's ability to play multiple outfield spots could land him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but it's hard to project much fantasy value in that expected role.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sent back to Buffalo
Rotowire
Toronto optioned Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Lukes gave the Blue Jays some extra outfield depth while Kevin Kiermaier (elbow) spent 10 days on the injured list. Kiermaier has been activated in a corresponding roster move ahead of Friday's series opener in Cincinnati.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Lukes was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes has spent more time in the majors than minors this season but has hardly played while up with the big club. Jordan Luplow is absorbing his spot on the roster.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Lukes was recalled by Toronto on Saturday.
Lukes has spent more than two months in the majors this season but has received a total of 23 plate appearances, posting a .524 OPS. He's up to replace George Springer, who was placed on the paternity list, but probably won't play much if the pattern continues.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Lukes was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Lukes has been in the majors almost all season but has been used sparingly, garnering just 23 plate appearances. Spencer Horwitz is taking his roster spot.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Getting first start
Rotowire
Lukes is starting in right field and batting ninth for the Blue Jays on Wednesday versus the Astros, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
It will be the first start in the majors for Lukes, who is hitless in one plate appearance. George Springer is in the designated hitter spot Wednesday.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Gets call-up
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
Lukes will be back with the big club for the second time this season, though his path to playing time remains fairly blocked while all of Toronto's key regulars are healthy. Since Lukes possesses decent speed and is capable of covering all three outfield spots, most of his usage is likely to come as a pinch runner or late-inning defensive replacement while he's with the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Lukes was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Friday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
The 28-year-old was sent down to make room for Jordan Luplow. Lukes did not receive a plate appearance during his time with Toronto to start the year, but he should receive regular playing time as a member of the Bisons in the International League.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Lukes was added to the Blue Jays' 40-man roster Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Toronto wanted to keep Lukes in the organization this offseason and decided he's worth a spot on the 40-man roster. He appeared in 111 games for Triple-A Buffalo in 2022 and had a .285/.361/.425 slash line with 11 home runs, 61 RBI and 20 steals.
