Outfielder Nathan Lukes exited Recreation 1 of the ALCS through the fourth inning tonight after fouling a ball off of his knee earlier within the recreation. He was changed by Myles Straw within the outfield, and supervisor John Schneider famous to Ken Rosenthal on the FOX Sports activities broadcast that Lukes was going to get an x-ray completed on his ailing knee, and that the difficulty “seemed extra like a bruise” upon preliminary analysis. The Blue Jays later introduced that he had exited the sport because of a proper knee contusion and would endure additional analysis. After the sport, Schneider instructed reporters (together with Mitch Bannon of The Athletic) that Lukes’s x-rays got here again clear and could be again within the lineup tomorrow if medically cleared to play.
Whereas it’s undoubtedly excellent news that Lukes prevented a fracture, the damage continues to be worrisome for the Jays. Lukes was solely a median bat within the common season this yr, with a 103 wRC+ throughout 135 video games, however in 5 playoff video games thus far this postseason he’s been a key piece of the Toronto lineup with a .286/.357/.429 slash line throughout his 14 plate appearances this October. Straw and Davis Schneider could be the almost certainly candidates to step into the lineup if Lukes had been pressured to overlook time, and whereas they each had been respectable items for the Jays this yr, including one other right-handed bat to the lineup could be lower than best in opposition to Seattle’s closely right-handed pitching workers on condition that Lukes is a profession 109 wRC+ hitter in opposition to righties.
It seemingly gained’t be clear simply how severe the bruise Lukes is coping with is till tomorrow, when he’ll be re-evaluated to see if he can play. Gamers like Kyle Tucker, Mike Trout, and Cody Bellinger have missed vital time through the common season lately because of bone bruises after fouling balls off of their knee or shin, although it’s unclear if Lukes’s ailment is at fairly that degree of severity. It’s totally potential that Lukes is coping with a a lot much less severe contusion and gained’t be at substantial danger for lacking time, notably given the truth that gamers will usually try and play by accidents they usually wouldn’t within the postseason.
With that being stated, it’s price keeping track of Lukes even when he’s in a position to play tomorrow. It wouldn’t be a shock if the contusion was severe sufficient to influence his skill on the sphere. Even when he’s not impacted on the plate, he’ll absolutely be shifting extra gingerly on the bases and within the discipline than he usually would. With Schneider boasting a 127 wRC+ within the common season and a 2-for-8 line with two walks within the posteason this yr, it’s not laborious to think about a diminished Lukes not being preferable to start out over Schneider, who could possibly be introduced into the lineup both by shifting Anthony Santander to proper discipline and inserting him in left, or shifting Addison Barger to proper discipline to open up third base for Ernie Clement so he can play second.
