Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes (neck) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The severity of the issue is unknown, but Lukes has been pulled from the lineup due to neck discomfort. For now, fantasy managers should consider Lukes as day-to-day until more information is revealed. The Jays will go with Alan Roden, Jonatan Clase, and Myles Straw in the outfield for Tuesday's contest. Straw figures to gain the most playing time if Lukes is forced to miss more games.
Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk, Nathan Lukes Not in Sunday's Lineup
Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes, as well as catcher Alejandro Kirk, are not in Sunday's lineup when they conclude a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Varsho has started each of their previous eight contests. During this stretch, he has held a .152/.147/.455 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and two long balls. Lukes has started each of their past nine games, primarily in left field and has held a .231/.333/.462 line during this stretch. Kirk has been Toronto's primary backstop through the opening two months of the season. He will get a routine maintenance day as he has started in each of the past two games. This afternoon, the Blue Jays are worth a look in DFS, facing Tampa Bay right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who enters this game holding a 3.99 ERA.
The Toronto Blue Jays have reinstated outfielder Nathan Lukes from the paternity list. The team noted the outfielder will be active during their contest on Friday evening against the Seattle Mariners. Through the first 12 games of the season, Lukes has posted a modest .167/.310/.208 slash line with one double and a 4:4 BB:K. During this stretch, Lukes has only started in eight of these games. Under the hood, the 30-year-old has generated a .339 xwOBA with a .280 xBA, which suggests he should see some positive regression when he returns to action. Fantasy managers should monitor the Toronto starting nine leading up to Friday's game. If he gets the starting nod, he will face Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo, who enters this game with a strong 2.84 ERA.
Nathan Lukes Starting In Center Field Against Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes will make his first start of the season on Friday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Charlie Morton at Rogers Centre. Lukes will be in center field and will bat eighth in the lineup with Ernie Clement starting on the bench. George Springer, who started in center field in the Opening Day loss, will shift to right field in this one. With Daulton Varsho (shoulder) starting the season on the injured list, the 30-year-old Lukes is expected to see plenty of playing time in center field against right-handed pitchers. In his second MLB season in 2024, he saw action in only 22 games and hit .303/.371/.447 with a homer, 10 RBI, one steal and 13 runs scored for the Jays. There isn't much pop in his bat, though, and Luke won't have much DFS appeal in his first 2025 start while batting out of the eight-hole in Toronto.
Nathan Lukes
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Blue Jays
