Blue Jays player Nathan Lukes returned to the lineup for the second game of the American League Championship Series against Seattle on Monday. Lukes had to exit Game 1 early due to a knee bruise sustained from fouling a ball off his leg in a lengthy at-bat during the first inning of the previous game.
Despite the injury, Lukes was cleared to play in Game 2, taking his spot in right field and batting second. Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed Lukes’ return during a pre-game media briefing, stating that Lukes had received treatment and was feeling better.
Schneider explained that Lukes was removed from the previous game due to difficulty with his movements but reassured that all medical scans came back clear. In the lineup change, outfielder Myles Straw replaced Lukes for Game 1.
In the upcoming match, Trey Yesavage was set to pitch for Toronto against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert. However, just before the game, outfielder Anthony Santander was sidelined due to a lower back issue, with Davis Schneider stepping in to replace him in left field.
The series was set to shift to Seattle for Games 3 and 4, with a potential Game 5 on Friday if needed. If the series extends to Games 6 and 7, they would be held back in Toronto. The Blue Jays are aiming to return to the World Series for the first time since their consecutive wins in 1992 and 1993.
