Possible alternative: "Probable Inclusion of Nestor Cortes on Yankees Roster; Gerrit Cole Set to Pitch Game 1"
The New York Yankees anticipate having southpaw Nestor Cortes on their roster for the start of the World Series on Friday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Cortes has not participated in the playoffs due to an elbow flexor strain, with his last appearance on the mound being on September 18 in the regular season where he threw six scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners.
The Yankees have not yet confirmed their World Series rotation, but it is expected that Gerrit Cole will start in Game 1. The California native had a record of 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 regular season starts and only allowed one run in six innings during a win against Los Angeles in 2023.
Cortes recently threw a live batting practice session and will have another one this week before the team travels to the West Coast.
\"He is scheduled to throw another live (Tuesday),\" stated Yankees manager Aaron Boone. \"If everything goes well, there is a good chance he will be on the roster.\"
The 29-year-old Cortes had a record of 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) this season, showing glimpses of his performance from 2022 where he had a record of 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA and finished eighth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
The Cuba native has faced the Dodgers twice in his career, including one game this season where he gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and took the loss in a 11-3 defeat at home on June 8.
In three postseason starts, all during the 2022 playoffs, Cortes has a record of 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, seven strikeouts, and seven walks in 12 innings.
