The New York Yankees advanced to the World Series without a pitcher who threw more innings and started more games, than all but one member of their staff this year.
Nestor Cortes was placed on the injured list with an elbow flexor strain hours before his final regular-season start. He has yet to pitch since.
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The Yankees cruised past the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians anyway, going 7-2 en route to their first appearance in the Fall Classic since 2009.
Now, it appears Cortes has had enough time to rest and rehabilitate his injury that he might just be on the Yankees' roster again when the World Series begins Friday.
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"I think there's a good chance of it," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday on a call with reporters, including ESPN's Jorge Castillo.
Cortes, went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 2024. The left-hander's 30 regular-season starts ranked second among Yankees pitchers only to Carlos Rodon, as did his 174.1 innings pitched.
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In September, Cortes underwent an MRI that revealed no damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, allowing him to avoid the dreaded Tommy John surgery that comes with a 12-to-18-month timetable for recovery.
Since he hasn't pitched in the meantime, it's unclear what role Cortes would occupy on the Yankees' World Series pitching staff.
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Castillo reported that Cortes threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session Saturday in Cleveland before Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, and will throw another Tuesday.
It's probable that Cortes will pitch out of the bullpen, as starters are typically built up to throw 100 pitches or more.
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Cortes is in his seventh season since he debuted with the Yankees in 2018 and his fourth as a member of the team's starting rotation. In his career, Cortes is 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA.
Cortes made the American League All-Star team and finished eighth in Cy Young Award voting in 2022 when he went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts.
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Boone announced Monday that Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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