On Thursday night, Yankees fans witnessed another rough outing from Nestor Cortes, who struggled in a 9-4 loss to the Angels amid wet conditions at Yankee Stadium. He was unable to get through the fifth inning, during which the Angels scored six runs, causing the Yankees (68-48) to drop the series after a three-game winning streak.
Nestor Cortes had shown signs of improvement in his previous start against the Phillies, where he went 5 2/3 innings and allowed only three runs. However, against the Angels, he took a step back. Despite facing a struggling Angels lineup, the Yankees pitcher allowed six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings.
The game began poorly for Nestor Cortes, as he gave up a leadoff home run to Nolan Schanuel on just the third pitch of the game, marking Schanuel’s third career leadoff homer and putting the Yankees in an early hole.
In the fifth inning, with the Yankees down 2-1, Nestor Cortes tried to limit the damage but faltered. The inning ended with a bases-loaded, two-run single by Kevin Pillar, which chased the pitcher away from the game. Pillar’s hit, the Angels’ ninth of the night, came on an 0-2 pitch that was outside the strike zone, but Cortes couldn’t put him away.
This latest setback continues a troubling pattern for Nestor Cortes and adds to the growing pressure on the Yankees’ pitching staff as they navigate a critical stretch of their season.
Nestor Cortes stepped up to the mound for the Yankees, filling in for the struggling Marcus Stroman, whose start was pushed back to Sunday. He delivered a feeble performance, going six innings while giving up just three hits, one earned run, and one walk. He also struck out seven batters in a 95-pitch effort.
This outing was a low point for Nestor Cortes, who has been battling inconsistency. His recent five starts have been particularly troubling, mirroring a broader slump within the Yankees’ rotation over the past month. Since June 23, Cortes has allowed fewer than three runs in just one start. In his last five appearances, he has surrendered a total of 24 earned runs over 23.1 innings, culminating in a concerning 9.26 ERA. Additionally, he failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning in four of those games.
The impact of this rough stretch is reflected in Nestor Cortes’ season ERA, which has climbed to 4.42 from a more respectable 3.41 before this slump. This downturn coincided with the Yankees’ decision not to acquire a starting pitcher before the July 30 trade deadline. The team reportedly backed out of a potential deal for Jack Flaherty due to medical concerns, despite exploring other options.
There was also speculation that Nestor Cortes might be traded if the Yankees secured a new starter, but the team ultimately chose to stick with their existing rotation. This decision also affects Stroman, who has struggled with a 6.32 ERA over his last 10 starts.
The Yankees’ decision to rely on their current pitching staff, despite recent struggles from Nestor Cortes and Stroman, raises questions about the team’s strategy and its potential impact on their postseason hopes.
Fans ask Yankees to act against Nestor Cortes
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