outfielder Nathan Lukes He exited tonight’s fourth inning of Game 1 of the ALCS after picking up a knee foul earlier in the game. he was replaced by Miles Straw In the outfield, head coach John Schneider pointed out to Ken Rosenthal on the Fox Sports broadcast that Lukes will have an X-ray on his ailing knee and the issue “Looks more like a bruise” After preliminary assessment. The Blue Jays later announced that he had left the game with a right knee contusion and would undergo further evaluation. After the game, Schneider told reporters (including The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon) that Lukes’ X-rays came back clear and he will be back in the lineup tomorrow if he clears the physical.
While it’s certainly good news that Lukes avoided a broken bone, the injury is still concerning for the Blue Jays. Lux was just an average hitter in the regular season this year, posting a 103 wRC+ in 135 games, but he has become a key cog in Toronto’s lineup in five postseason games so far, posting a .286/.357/.429 slash line in 14 games this October. straw and Davis Schneider They would be the most likely candidates to make the lineup if Lukes is forced to sit out the game, and while they are both respectable players for the Jays this year, adding another right-handed bat against Seattle’s right-handed pitching staff would be less than ideal considering Lukes is a career 109 wRC+ against right-handed hitters.
The severity of Lukes’ injury likely won’t be clear until tomorrow, when he will be re-evaluated to see if he can still play. players like Kyle Tucker, Mike Troutand Cody Bellinger Lukes has missed significant time in the regular season in recent years due to bone bruises caused by fouls on his knee or shin, although it’s unclear whether Lukes’ condition was that serious. It’s entirely possible that Lukes is dealing with a less serious contusion and isn’t at huge risk of missing time, especially considering players typically try to play in situations where injuries typically don’t occur in the playoffs.
That being said, even if Lukes is able to play tomorrow, he’s worth keeping an eye on. It wouldn’t be surprising if the contusion is severe enough to impact his ability on the field. Even if he doesn’t suffer at the plate, his movement on the bases and in the field will certainly be more cautious than usual. Schneider posted a 127 wRC+ in the regular season and went 2-for-8 with two walks in this year’s playoffs. It’s not hard to imagine that the weakened Lux is no longer a better starter than Schneider, who could be replaced in the lineup. Anthony Santander to right field and put him in left field, or move Addison Barger to right field to open up third base. Ernie Clement That way he can play second.
