Jorge Castillo, ESPN Workers Author
NEW YORK — When Nestor Cortes was positioned on the injured checklist on Sept. 25, the New York Yankees weren’t optimistic about his possibilities of pitching once more in 2024. Elbow flexor strains typically result in vital elbow accidents. Even when this one didn’t, the Yankees must make a deep postseason run for his return to even be a consideration. Probabilities had been slim.
However the Yankees have made that deep postseason run. And now Cortes will doubtless be on the Yankees’ roster for Recreation 1 of the World Sequence on Friday — precisely one month after he was placed on the injured checklist.
“I feel there is a good probability of it,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned in a name with reporters Monday.
Cortes’ availability relies on him rising wholesome from a reside bullpen session Tuesday. The left-hander threw a 20-pitch reside bullpen session Saturday in Cleveland earlier than Recreation 5 of the American League Championship Sequence. The Yankees beat the Guardians that night time to win their first AL pennant since 2009 — and provides Cortes a possibility to contribute.
The 29-year-old Cortes posted a 3.77 ERA in 31 video games throughout the common season. Of these appearances, 30 had been begins. He completed second on the membership with 174 ⅓ innings pitched. But when he returns for the World Sequence it will be as a reliever, which might’ve been his function for the postseason earlier than the damage regardless since groups solely want 4 starters for seven-game playoff collection and the Yankees had determined to go together with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil of their rotation.
Nonetheless, his return could be a big improvement for New York. Cortes would give the Yankees one other dependable left-hander after Tim Hill pitched in all 5 ALCS video games. He might additionally doubtlessly give the Yankees some size out of the bullpen, although Cortes’ workload may very well be restricted coming off the damage. Cortes tossed 4 ⅓ hitless innings in his solely aid look this 12 months in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 7. He then gave up one run in 11 innings over two begins earlier than touchdown on the injured checklist.
