Yankees Pitcher Nestor Cortes Placed on Injured List with Elbow Strain

It’s bad news for the New York Yankees as pitcher Nestor Cortes has been sidelined with a strained flexor in his pitching elbow. This setback has led to him being placed on the 15-day injured list, just as the team gears up for the playoffs.

Cortes was expected to start against Baltimore, but those plans changed as Marcus Stroman took his place. The move to the injured list was retroactive to Sunday, adding more pressure to the team’s postseason plans.

With a record of 9-10 and an ERA of 3.77, Cortes was a potential candidate to be the Yankees’ third starter in the playoffs, supporting Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. In his last seven starts, he boasted a 4-0 record with a remarkable 1.58 ERA, making him a key player in the team’s success.

Despite this setback, the Yankees are still in a strong position to secure a playoff berth and potentially clinch the AL East title, giving them a first-round bye. This would set them up nicely to open the Division Series at home on October 5.

With Stroman, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt in contention for the Game 3 start, the team is adapting to the situation and looking for alternative options. The possibility of only needing three starters due to scheduled off days brings some relief to the pitching rotation.

To add depth to the roster, the Yankees have recalled right-hander Cody Poteet from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, providing additional support for the team as they head into the postseason.

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