The New York Yankees are close to securing the AL East title, but they received concerning news about one of their starting pitchers on Wednesday.
Left-hander Nestor Cortes, who was slated to start that day, has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a flexor strain, as announced by the team. He underwent an MRI earlier in the day, according to the YES Network.
Even with the maximum backdating to September 22, this IL stint means Cortes won’t be available to pitch at least through the ALDS.
He can only be activated on October 5, which coincides with Game 2 of the ALDS, and roster changes during the postseason are limited to replacing injured players. Flexor strains can be quite serious, and even a minor one might end Cortes’ season.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed uncertainty about Cortes’ potential return, saying, “I don’t know if optimistic. We’re not ruling it out yet, but we need to see how the next week to 10 days unfolds.”
Cortes, 29, leads the Yankees in both starts (31) and innings (174 1/3), boasting a 3.77 ERA alongside impressive underlying metrics (3.83 FIP, 3.65 xERA).
Just two weeks ago, he pitched 4 1/3 hitless innings in relief to secure a save, indicating the team was considering him for a postseason relief role. He was expected to play a key part in the playoffs.
