Yanks put Cortes on IL, unsure he’ll return in ’24
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Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff Writer
NEW YORK — Nestor Cortes was slated to start Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles as the New York Yankees look to clinch the American League East title. Instead, the team put the left-hander on the 15-day injured list because of a “left elbow flexor strain” retroactive to Sunday after he underwent an MRI exam.
Cortes said he did not know the severity of the strain, but that the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow “looks good.” He said he would not throw for the next seven to 10 days and expected to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection as an attempt to accelerate healing.
Cortes said the imaging taken Wednesday would be sent to Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Keith Meister, two of the leading orthopedic surgeons for reconstructive elbow surgery, for second and third opinions.
Going on the injured list ensures Cortes will not be available for the start of the AL Division Series on Oct. 5, though his absence should extend longer than that. Though he shared hope he could return in 2024, manager Aaron Boone struck a different tone.
“I don’t know if [I’m] optimistic,” Boone said. “I mean, we’re not ruling it out yet. First things first, the next week to 10 days, at least, has to unfold to really see what we’re dealing with and see if there is any chance.”
The Yankees turned to Marcus Stroman, who recently shifted to the bullpen, to start in Cortes’ place Wednesday. Stroman last pitched eight days earlier, throwing three innings in his first and only relief appearance this season. The club also called up Cody Poteet, who was recently activated from the 60-day injured list and sent to Triple-A.
A former 36th-round pick, Cortes was an All-Star in 2022 and, after an injury-plagued 2023 season, was enjoying a bounce-back campaign, posting a 3.77 ERA across a team-leading 174⅓ innings pitched across 30 starts. Still, he was the subject of trade rumors at the deadline and was expected to pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason. His recent performance did not suggest he has been dealing with any elbow trouble; he gave up one run with 18 strikeouts in 15⅓ innings over his past three outings.
The stretch began with Cortes tossing 4⅓ hitless innings in his first relief appearance of the season against the Chicago Cubs, and afterward sharing his frustration with moving to the bullpen. He returned to the rotation five days later, limiting the Boston Red Sox to one run with nine strikeouts across five innings. On Sept. 18, he held the Seattle Mariners to four hits over six scoreless innings.
But Cortes said he began feeling discomfort before his relief appearance in Chicago. Bouncing back after each subsequent appearance became increasingly difficult. But Cortes, who said he doesn’t believe briefly changing roles caused the injury, pitched through it, believing the problem would subside until he threw a bullpen session Sunday in Oakland and reported the issue to the team. On Tuesday, after playing catch, he told the team he didn’t feel good enough to make his start Wednesday.
“I don’t think I was able to go out there and throw 100 pitches,” Cortes said. “Could have I gone out there and thrown? Definitely. Quality? Probably not. We’re trying to win as many games as possible and I don’t think I would’ve been the guy or the answer for us to win today so i decided to say something.”
The Yankees have, for the most part, benefited from good injury luck in recent weeks. Clarke Schmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Jon Berti, Ian Hamilton and Luis Gil also have been reinstated from the injured list since Sept. 1. The reinforcements made the Yankees more whole than just about any other club in baseball.
It also gave the Yankees a problem that teams would love to confront down the stretch: having six healthy, capable starting pitchers for five spots. The surplus prompted the Yankees to move Cortes to the bullpen for one rotation turn before switching Stroman with him for the next turn.
On Wednesday, that surplus took a hit.
“He’s been throwing the ball well so well and has put together a really good year,” Boone said. “Certainly feel for him right now and just have to pick up the slack there and support him right now.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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