Blue Jays' Lukes to make first career major league start against Astros

April 19, 2023 - 5:34pm

Toronto blue Jays centre fielder Nathan Lukes catches a fly ball for an out during a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park Monday March 28, 2022, in North Port, Fla. (Steve Helber/AP)

Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes will make the first start of his MLB career on Wednesday against the Houston Astros.

The 28-year-old will start in right field and hit ninth for the Blue Jays, spelling George Springer who will instead bat as the designated hitter.

This season, Lukes has appeared in four games, primarily as a pinch runner, while taking his first career at-bat — a flyout to left-centre field — against the Astros on Monday.

Lukes played parts of seven seasons across minor league baseball with Cleveland, Tampa Bay, and Toronto before making his major league debut earlier this year.