The New York Yankees placed left-hand pitcher Nestor Cortes on a 15-day Injured List on Wednesday. Cortes will be out for the remainder of the regular season but might return in the postseason if the Yankees get on a deep playoff run.
Cortes was initially set to make a start on Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles but ended up experiencing discomfort in his pitching elbow early in the week. He ended up getting an MRI test that showed a flexor strain. The 29-year-old lefty is expected to spend the next week resting while also undergoing a platelet-rich plasma injection treatment.
Speaking with reporters, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the team isn’t ruling out Cortes’ return for the playoffs while adding that the team will have more information on his postseason status in the next seven to 10 days.
“I don’t know if [I’m] optimistic,” Boone explained. “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.”
Cortes is 9-10 in 30 starts for the Yankees in 2024. He will finish the regular season with a 3.77 ERA and 162 strikeouts.
