Nestor Cortes proved that his dissatisfaction with a temporary bullpen stint didn’t diminish his effectiveness on the mound. In fact, his relief outing on Saturday against the Cubs was arguably his best performance of the season. But his anger is likely to impact his slot in the Yankees rotation.
Cortes, making his first relief appearance since 2021, delivered 4 1/3 no-hit innings to help secure a 2-0 win at Wrigley Field. Despite his frustration over being temporarily shifted from the rotation, Cortes was sharp and dominant.
After the game, Cortes didn’t hold back his feelings about the move. He expressed disappointment, emphasizing his role as the team’s workhorse starter, particularly after being named the Opening Day starter following Gerrit Cole’s spring setback. Cortes noted that the change disrupted his routine, but he also reaffirmed his commitment to the team, emphasizing that personal frustrations would never affect his effort on the field.
“Obviously I was upset,” he said after the Yankees win. “I felt like I’ve been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here. Once Cole went down [in spring training], they picked me to be the Opening Day starter — not necessarily the No. 1, but the Opening Day starter. I had to switch my routine there.
“Now they do this,” Cortes added. “But I’m never going to back down from a challenge. I’m never going to leave my teammates out to dry. You’re always going to get my best effort no matter if I’m happy or not. That’s what I did today. I came out there and proved I can be put in any situation. From here on out, if that’s my role, then I’ll accept it.”
The Yankees temporarily moved Cortes to the bullpen to accommodate the returns of Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt from the injured list. The team plans to reintegrate him into the rotation for the upcoming series against the Red Sox in The Bronx, implementing a one-time six-man rotation before reverting to five starters for the final stretch of the regular season.
Cortes acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future role, admitting the change caught him off guard. While the current plan includes his return to start against Boston, he questioned the need for a six-man rotation given the upcoming off days, which could provide the starters with extra rest.
“I have no idea [how it’s going to play out],” Cortes admitted. “This one caught me by surprise, so we’ll see. I know they told me that I’m starting against Boston, but after that, with a six-man rotation and off days in between, guys are going to get extra days and I don’t think that’s necessarily the right move, so we’ll see.”
Before Saturday’s relief appearance, Cortes had posted a 4.08 ERA across 28 starts and led the Yankees with 159 innings pitched. His standout performance in an unfamiliar role adds a new layer to the Yankees’ pitching strategy as they navigate the final weeks of the season and prepare for potential postseason play.
Nestor Cortes’ standout relief appearance on Saturday has potentially reshaped his standing within the Yankees’ pitching staff. With prior bullpen experience similar to Clarke Schmidt, Cortes appeared right at home in his dominant outing against the Cubs.
Manager Aaron Boone praised Cortes for his professionalism, noting that despite any frustration with the temporary shift from the rotation, he delivered when called upon.
Boone’s decision to bring Cortes into a tight spot in the fifth inning instead of another reliever highlighted his strategic approach. With a runner on third and two outs in a 1-0 game, Cortes quickly induced a pop-out from Christian Bethancourt to escape the jam, setting the tone for the rest of his outing.
By the ninth inning, Boone had Luke Weaver warming up for a potential save, but with Cortes in complete command, the manager chose to let the left-hander finish the job. The Yankees lefty retired 13 of the 14 batters he faced, allowing just one walk in an otherwise perfect performance.
Reflecting on the game, Cortes admitted to initial discomfort, particularly with the uncertainty of when he might enter from the bullpen as Schmidt approached his pitch count limit. He described the challenge of managing his warm-up in the unfamiliar role but drew on his bullpen experience to adjust.
Cortes found satisfaction in stranding the runner at third base, viewing it as an opportunity to support Schmidt’s solid start. His ability to thrive under pressure underscored his adaptability, showcasing the versatility that could influence the Yankees’ decisions regarding his future role on the pitching staff.
“So that was a little tough, but other than that, I’ve been there before, done that before,” Cortes told. “It felt nice stranding that runner at third, honestly. I felt like Clarke had a really good outing today and the least I could do was that for him.”
Yankees fans hail Cortes’ relief appearance
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
