<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Toronto Blue Jays took to the field for their series finale against the Seattle Mariners, they were sporting an outfield of Jonatan Clase, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theBlueJaysNation/videos/look-at-myles-straw-fly-straw-steals-another-base-hit-from-julio-rodriguez-and-h/1851225179034361/">Myles Straw</a>, and <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-blue-jays-got-a-clutch-hit-from-nathan-lukes-in-5-3-win-over-guardians">Nathan Lukes</a>. If you had told fans of the team that the trio would be starting a game this early in the season, they would surely think something horrible had happened.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The truth is, they wouldn’t be completely wrong. Prized free-agent acquisition <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/anthony-santander-finding-his-bat-is-the-answer-to-the-blue-jays-hitting-problems">Anthony Santander</a> has struggled for most of the season and missed all three games in Seattle due to a sore shoulder. While he&#8217;s back in the lineup against the Rays, the slugger is still looking to get off the season-long skid, hitting just .190 with five homers and a .600 OPS, but has seen some better numbers since the calendar turned over into May. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Center fielder <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/daulton-varsho-fittingly-makes-sensational-catch-in-return-from-il-hes-the-best-out-there">Daulton Varsho</a> has returned to the club following rotator cuff surgery and will eventually play every day, and Alan Roden bullrushed his way to an Opening Day roster spot but was demoted to triple-A after struggling to adapt to major league pitching. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theBlueJaysNation/videos/george-springer-kicks-things-off-tonight-with-a-two-run-home-run-sportsnet-bluej/1032740242136973/">George Springer</a> was the DH on Sunday and has been the team’s best player through the first 40 games while also playing across the outfield when needed. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The injuries and inconsistencies have created some opportunities, and Straw and Lukes have taken advantage, with these two bats being one of the reasons the Jays have been able to tread water with a .500 record despite having a shaky offence.</span></p>
<h2>Nathan Lukes</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lukes was a surprising member of the initial roster, as the Blue Jays opted to start the season with six primary outfielders given Varsho&#8217;s injury, and the veteran minor leaguer authored a .222/.364/.361 slash line through 36 at-bats this spring</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. After appearing in just 51 games with barely over 100 at-bats over the last two seasons, the 30-year-old is getting a real chance to show his skillset this year after a thumb injury in triple-A last year had him on the shelf for some time. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He’s started at all three outfield spots and has displayed considerable contact abilities with some power over the last two weeks. In May, the left-handed hitter is batting .333 (9 for 27) with a double, home run, seven RBIs, and a .919 OPS across ten games. He was one of several Jays to take an extra base (going from first to third on a single) over the weekend, and drove in three runs during that set.</span></p>
<p>The California product has been a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jays this season, whether starting or coming off the bench, and has held his own to a +1 DRS across all outfield positions. His season-long slash line of .270/.373/.397 and his 120 OPS+ is a step in the right direction and he&#8217;s already put together a 0.5 bWAR through a quarter portion of the schedule.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NATHAN LUKES IN THE CLUTCH 🫡 <a href="https://t.co/xHZiJ4TBwQ">pic.twitter.com/xHZiJ4TBwQ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1918479215449538783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>Myles Straw</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trade for Myles Straw was mostly met with skepticism and apathy given the circumstances, but the former Astros and Guardians outfielder has exceeded all expectations and been a crucial contributor. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Known for his defense, the former 12th-round pick has delivered some clutch hits along with his signature defensive acumen. Straw made two jaw-dropping catches during the series sweep in Seattle and came up with two seismic hits to help the Jays pull off the feat. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday night, Straw hit a liner to right field in the eighth inning that scored two runs and gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead. That timely single was preceded by a diving catch that robbed Mariners star Julio Rodriguez of extra bases in the sixth. Then, in the series finale, Straw drove in a run to extend the Jays’ lead to 4-1, and helped preserve the lead with another robbery of a potential hit off of J-Rod’s bat, making a long run from centerfield to make another athletic, sliding grab.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daulton Varsho and Myles Straw flashed the glovework with these crazy catches in the Blue Jays-Mariners series this weekend 😲 <a href="https://t.co/cokcGZWgfb">pic.twitter.com/cokcGZWgfb</a></p>
<p>&mdash; MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1922010136446455970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Straw saw considerable time in the outfield when Varsho was on the IL, and he&#8217;s been contributing with his bat all season long, authoring a .290/.319/.391 slash line with four doubles, one home run, and seven RBIs. He&#8217;s not a power hitter by any means, but considering the circumstances of his acquisition, the Jays have to be pleased with his production on the field, given the rotating capacity of starter and bench player.</p>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">When the Toronto Blue Jays took to the field for their series finale against the Seattle Mariners, they were sporting an outfield of Jonatan Clase, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theBlueJaysNation/videos/look-at-myles-straw-fly-straw-steals-another-base-hit-from-julio-rodriguez-and-h/1851225179034361/">Myles Straw</a>, and <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-blue-jays-got-a-clutch-hit-from-nathan-lukes-in-5-3-win-over-guardians">Nathan Lukes</a>. If you had told fans of the team that the trio would be starting a game this early in the season, they would surely think something horrible had happened.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The truth is, they wouldn’t be completely wrong. Prized free-agent acquisition <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/anthony-santander-finding-his-bat-is-the-answer-to-the-blue-jays-hitting-problems">Anthony Santander</a> has struggled for most of the season and missed all three games in Seattle due to a sore shoulder. While he's back in the lineup against the Rays, the slugger is still looking to get off the season-long skid, hitting just .190 with five homers and a .600 OPS, but has seen some better numbers since the calendar turned over into May. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Center fielder <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/daulton-varsho-fittingly-makes-sensational-catch-in-return-from-il-hes-the-best-out-there">Daulton Varsho</a> has returned to the club following rotator cuff surgery and will eventually play every day, and Alan Roden bullrushed his way to an Opening Day roster spot but was demoted to triple-A after struggling to adapt to major league pitching. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theBlueJaysNation/videos/george-springer-kicks-things-off-tonight-with-a-two-run-home-run-sportsnet-bluej/1032740242136973/">George Springer</a> was the DH on Sunday and has been the team’s best player through the first 40 games while also playing across the outfield when needed. </span>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The injuries and inconsistencies have created some opportunities, and Straw and Lukes have taken advantage, with these two bats being one of the reasons the Jays have been able to tread water with a .500 record despite having a shaky offence.</span>
<h2>Nathan Lukes</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lukes was a surprising member of the initial roster, as the Blue Jays opted to start the season with six primary outfielders given Varsho's injury, and the veteran minor leaguer authored a .222/.364/.361 slash line through 36 at-bats this spring</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. After appearing in just 51 games with barely over 100 at-bats over the last two seasons, the 30-year-old is getting a real chance to show his skillset this year after a thumb injury in triple-A last year had him on the shelf for some time. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">He’s started at all three outfield spots and has displayed considerable contact abilities with some power over the last two weeks. In May, the left-handed hitter is batting .333 (9 for 27) with a double, home run, seven RBIs, and a .919 OPS across ten games. He was one of several Jays to take an extra base (going from first to third on a single) over the weekend, and drove in three runs during that set.</span>

The California product has been a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jays this season, whether starting or coming off the bench, and has held his own to a +1 DRS across all outfield positions. His season-long slash line of .270/.373/.397 and his 120 OPS+ is a step in the right direction and he's already put together a 0.5 bWAR through a quarter portion of the schedule.

[embed]https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1918479215449538783[/embed]
<h2>Myles Straw</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The trade for Myles Straw was mostly met with skepticism and apathy given the circumstances, but the former Astros and Guardians outfielder has exceeded all expectations and been a crucial contributor. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Known for his defense, the former 12th-round pick has delivered some clutch hits along with his signature defensive acumen. Straw made two jaw-dropping catches during the series sweep in Seattle and came up with two seismic hits to help the Jays pull off the feat. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday night, Straw hit a liner to right field in the eighth inning that scored two runs and gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead. That timely single was preceded by a diving catch that robbed Mariners star Julio Rodriguez of extra bases in the sixth. Then, in the series finale, Straw drove in a run to extend the Jays’ lead to 4-1, and helped preserve the lead with another robbery of a potential hit off of J-Rod’s bat, making a long run from centerfield to make another athletic, sliding grab.</span>

https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1922010136446455970

Straw saw considerable time in the outfield when Varsho was on the IL, and he's been contributing with his bat all season long, authoring a .290/.319/.391 slash line with four doubles, one home run, and seven RBIs. He's not a power hitter by any means, but considering the circumstances of his acquisition, the Jays have to be pleased with his production on the field, given the rotating capacity of starter and bench player.

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