NEW YORK — The Yankees will start Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Guardians with left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes. Nasty Nestor is to replace Jameson Taillon on the mound on Tuesday.
The Yankees will start Nestor Cortes on short rest as their playoff season is on the line in this winner-take-all game of the American League Division Series. Jameson Taillon was supposed to pitch the first pitch of Game 5 on Monday night, but the game was called off because of the rain.
Now, when New York and Cleveland play their last game of this series, the Yankees have their hopes pinned on Cortes. Whoever wins gets to play the Astros in the AL Championship Series, which starts on Wednesday in Houston.
After the conclusion of Game 4, Nestor Cortes stood in a secluded area of the Yankees’ visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field and expressed the wish that the Yankees would hand the ball to him at some point during Game 5, despite the fact that he would have only had two days of rest at that point.
A third rest day was added as a result of the rain on Monday. In his MLB career, Nestor Cortes has only once started a game after having three days of respite between contests. It was against the Tigers in Detroit on September 10, 2019, when he allowed four runs, two of which were earned, along with six hits over the course of 2 1/3 innings.
After the Yankees named him, Nestor Cortes told:
“I’m ready to go. I’m going to empty the tank. If I have to come back on short rest, whether it’s two or three days, I’m going to try and prepare in between the best I can to feel as best as I can.”
Twenty-seven-year-old Nestor Cortes is an All-Star this season. He started pitching Game 2 at Yankee Stadium last Friday, but New York lost it 4-2. Over the course of five innings, Cortes allowed the Guardians to just score two runs and collect six hits while walking three batters and striking out three more. Amed Rosario was able to hit a home run off of him in the fifth inning.
For the Guardians, right-hander Aaron Civale will start Game 5. However, it is likely that Cleveland may go for Shane Bieber after the Yankees brought in Nasty Nestor. Bieber too had a three-day rest.
Since it rained on Monday, whichever team makes it to the ALCS and plays Game 1 against the Astros on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET will not have a day off.
Is it right to field Nestor Cortes as the starting pitcher for the all-important Game 5? What do you think? Leave a comment below.
