Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Orioles, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over six-plus innings. He struck out five.
The southpaw held Baltimore mostly in check through six innings, allowing only a Ryan Mountcastle solo shot and getting handed a 5-1 lead, but Cortes faded fast in the seventh, walking Anthony Santander and giving up a single to Austin Hays before Adam Frazier tagged him for a three-run homer. He still exited the game in line for the win, but Jimmy Cordero was even more ineffective after replacing him. Cortes has allowed at least four runs in three of his last five starts and has now served up 10 homers in 54.1 innings on the year, leaving him with a 5.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 53:16 K:BB. He'll try to bounce back in his next outing, which is likely to come early next week in Seattle.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Produces quality start
Rotowire
Cortes (4-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out six.
Cortes rolled through the Toronto lineup, posting his best start in over a month. The lefty hadn't completed six innings over his previous four starts. Despite the quality start, Cortes has allowed at least two runs in every start since his season debut back on April 3. After consecutive seasons with an ERA under 3.00, Cortes is sporting a 5.21 ERA in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Serves up six runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Cortes did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks across 4.1 innings during a 9-8 win over Tampa Bay. He struck out three.
Cortes was sharp to start, allowing just one run through his first four innings, but he got into major trouble in the fifth and was charged with five runs in the frame, including a grand slam by Yandy Diaz. The left-hander was dominant in 2022, posting a 2.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 163:38 K:BB through 158.1 innings, but he's struggled to find any rhythm to begin 2023 and sports a 5.53 ERA over his first eight starts (42.1 innings). He hasn't picked up a win since April 20.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Stumbles late
Rotowire
Cortes yielded two runs on six hits and two walks over five-plus innings during Monday's win over Oakland. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.
Cortes looked strong through five shutout frames, allowing four hits and a walk and never facing too much of a threat. He took the mound in the sixth and put three straight A's on base and was charged with two runs after leaving the game. Cortes has looked shaky recently; over his last four starts, he's registered a 6.53 ERA, raising his season mark to 4.74. His next outing is projected to be a home matchup against the Rays.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Next start moved to Monday
Rotowire
Cortes is no longer scheduled to make start this weekend at Tampa Bay, with manager Aaron Boone noting that the southpaw's next turn has been pushed back to Monday against the Athletics after Cortes recently overcame a bout with strep throat, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Cortes is feeling fine now, but the illness interrupted his between-starts preparation, which prompted the Yankees to push him back in the pitching schedule. Gerrit Cole will be moved up from Monday to start Sunday on normal rest.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Roughed up in second loss
Rotowire
Cortes (3-2) took the loss Sunday against the Rangers after allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven.
Cortes was punished by the long ball and a lack of command in this one while needing 100 pitches to get through 4.2 innings. The southpaw retired Marcus Semien to kick things off but then issued consecutive walks and a single to load the bases for Josh Jung, who capitalized with a grand slam to right. Cortes settled down from there, retiring 12 of the next 14 hitters before running into some more problems in the fifth. The 28-year-old gave up another walk and proceeded to give up back-to-back home runs to Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia to put the Yanks in a 7-1 hole. All-around it was an uncharacteristic outing for Cortes, who had not given up more than four runs in any of his prior 33 starts dating back to the start of the 2022 campaign. He now holds a 4.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB over 33 innings and lines up to face the Rays next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Handed first loss
Rotowire
Cortes (3-1) was charged with the loss Tuesday in Minnesota after he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits across five-plus innings. He struck out six and walked one.
The left-hander ran into trouble during the third and sixth innings, as the Twins tallied a pair of runs against him in each frame, including a two-run homer by Byron Buxton in the sixth. Cortes certainly wasn't at his best Tuesday but still produced 13 swinging strikes and kept the Yankees close. The 28-year-old has yet to give up more than three earned runs in any of his five starts this year and has a 3.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB over 28.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Improves to 3-0
Rotowire
Cortes (3-0) earned the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.
Cortes cruised through four hitless innings before Brandon Drury opened the fifth with a leadoff single. Los Angeles put together two more hits and a pair of runs in that frame, but Cortes bounced back with a scoreless sixth before departing after issuing a walk to begin the seventh. The lefty hurler ended up being charged for one more run, but he still notched his second straight quality start and third win of the campaign. Cortes has punched out seven batters in consecutive contests and holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB across 23.1 innings on the season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Seven strong frames
Rotowire
Cortes gave up two earned runs on five hits and zero walks while striking out seven over seven innings against the Twins on Friday. He did not factor in the decision.
Cortes deserved the win, but Clay Holmes blew a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning. This was Cortes' best and longest start of the season, but his first without a victory. He threw 93 pitches and appears to be in midseason form. Per usual, he leaned on his 87-mph cutter (43 percent usage) while getting four whiffs on nine swings against his offspeed pitches.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Snags second win
Rotowire
Cortes (2-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in the 5-3 victory over the Orioles.
Cortes impressed again, earning his second consecutive win to start the season. The left-hander was efficient, throwing 60 of 91 pitches for strikes, and didn't take any damage until after he exited the game in the sixth inning. Cortes left two runners on before being relieved, and the Orioles earned their first runs of the game on an Anthony Santander two-run double. The 28-year-old owns a 2.61 ERA and 8:2 K:BB through 10.1 innings and will look to stay in the win column in his next start, likely in the upcoming series with the Twins next week.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Cruises to victory Monday
Rotowire
Cortes (1-0) earned the win over Philadelphia on Monday, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out three batters.
Cortes gave up multiple hits in three of his five frames, but the Phillies managed just one run off him. With the Yankees up 8-1 after five innings and with Cortes having thrown just 11.1 frames this spring, manager Aaron Boone elected to go to the bullpen, which preserved the big lead to hand the southpaw the win in his season debut. Cortes threw 80 pitches in the outing, so he should be capable of handling a nearly full workload his next time out, which is tentatively scheduled to be in Baltimore this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Hurls four innings in spring finale
Rotowire
Cortes threw four innings in an exhibition game against Washington on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk. He didn't strike out any batters.
The only run Cortes gave up in the outing came on a second-inning Alex Call solo homer. Cortes finished the spring slate with a 4.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB over 11.1 innings. The southpaw battled a hamstring issue early in camp, but he recovered in time to make three starts. Cortes is expected to make his regular-season debut at home against Philadelphia on April 3.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Allows five runs in spring debut
Rotowire
Cortes allowed five runs in 3.2 innings of work Saturday in his Grapefruit League debut against the Blue Jays.
Cortes allowed three walks and three hits while striking out four. He allowed two homers in the contest, and he threw 35 of 52 pitches for strikes. The line is unimpressive, but the big takeaway is that Cortes was able to get back on the bump after missing the first few weeks of the Grapefruit League because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He'll likely pitch again next week, and he appears to be well on his way to being a part of the Opening Day rotation.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Making spring debut
Rotowire
Cortes (hamstring) is starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
This is a big deal, as Cortes is working to get ready in time to make his first turn in the rotation. It's already been reported that he probably won't pitch in the first series against the Giants, but he could take the ball April 3 at home against the Phillies. He has been throwing live batting practice sessions and simulated games thus far in camp.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Spring debut scheduled
Rotowire
Cortes (hamstring) is tentatively scheduled for a live batting practice session Monday and a Grapefruit League appearance the following Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes has been dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain since early in camp. The given timeline would mean he'll be getting into game action just 11 days before the regular season begins, so it's possible he'll be on a pitch count for his first few outings of the year, but he should still be able to avoid the injured list if all goes well.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: One more live BP before debut
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cortes (hamstring) will throw one more live batting practice session before making his spring debut, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes threw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, and Boone told reporters after the outing that the southpaw threw the ball well. The 28-year-old is set to face hitters once more in a controlled setting before likely making his Grapefruit League debut. Because of his hamstring injury, Cortes is expected to open the season as the Yankees' No. 5 starter, but it doesn't appear as though he'll lose out on any turns through the rotation as a result of the delayed start to his spring throwing progression.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Completes three-inning sim game
Rotowire
Cortes (hamstring) threw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
The Yankees haven't provided an update on Cortes' next step, but if he's kept on his normal between-starts throwing schedule for the regular season, he could be a candidate to make his first start of the spring as soon as next Monday versus the Twins. Before exposing Cortes to pitching in an uncontrolled environment, it's possible the Yankees opt to have him throw another simulated game or pitch in a "B" game on the back fields of camp instead. Regardless, Cortes looks to be progressing well from the strained right hamstring that resulted in him opting out of the World Baseball Classic, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already suggested he anticipates the southpaw will be ready to go when the team requires a fifth starter in the first turn through the Opening Day rotation.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Likely to begin as fifth starter
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone hinted Sunday that Cortes (hamstring) will likely be the fifth starter to begin the season, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Gerrit Cole is likely to start Opening Day followed by Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino, and then the winner of the competition between Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt would likely start the fourth game. That would give Cortes an extra few days to be ready for the year as he recovers from the strained hamstring that has sidelined him this spring, with Boone telling reporters that he's about a week behind the other arms in the rotation. The left-hander is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut soon, and while his debut may come later than anticipated, Cortes still should be ready to help fantasy managers to begin 2023.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Closing in on spring debut
Rotowire
Cortes (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Thursday and estimated that he's running at about 90 percent, MLB.com reports.
Though Cortes' Grade 2 right hamstring strain was deemed serious enough for him to withdraw from pitching for the United States squad in the World Baseball Classic, the injury doesn't look like it'll be anything that keeps him out for more than a week or two of Grapefruit League action. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Cortes is likely to throw one more live batting practice session before potentially making his spring debut during the upcoming week or early next week. Barring any setbacks with the hamstring along the way, Cortes shouldn't face any major workload restrictions by the time Opening Day arrives.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: No issues during bullpen session
Rotowire
Cortes (hamstring) felt no issues during his bullpen session Friday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
The southpaw mentioned to Rivera after his workout that he has made "good strides and felt better," and that he was progressing faster than he initially thought. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Cortes tossed 24 pitches in the session and was operating at "70-75 percent" capacity after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that caused him to pull out of the World Baseball Classic. Fantasy managers will want to see how Cortes feels in the coming days, but for now, this appears to be a very positive development.
