World Series News: Yankees Add Pitcher, Drop Infielder From 26-Man Roster

New York Yankees pitcher 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.

That will change in the World Series.

Cortes was added to the Yankees' roster ahead of their championship battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. He'll give New York an additional left-hander out of the bullpen for the best-of-seven series.

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The 29-year-old went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in the regular season. His 30 starts ranked second among Yankees pitchers only to Carlos Rodon, as did his 174.1 innings pitched.

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.

Pitching during the World Series involves risk, however.

"I guess the way I've gone about it is, I can probably pitch this World Series and be good, and then come into spring training and blow out and obviously not expect it," Cortes told reporters earlier this week. "So, I guess, the World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Hopefully not for this team.

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"It's important for me to be healthy and be effective. I don't want to be here just because I want to play in the World Series. I want to be here because I'm going to help this team potentially win a World Series. So if I'm healthy and I'm ready to go, which I think I am, I'll be able to contribute to this team."

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 1: Nestor Cortes #65 and Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees take the field before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on September 1,... New York Yankees/Getty Images

Cortes threw live batting practice before he was cleared to rejoin the roster. He'll take the place of infielder Jon Berti, who had made 12 plate appearances between the ALDS and ALCS, collecting two hits and a walk.

Cortes is in his seventh season since he debuted with the Yankees in 2018. 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.

Berti, a right-handed hitter, derived most of his value from defensive versatility and speed on the bases. The 2022 leader in stolen bases, Berti hit .273 with one home run in 25 games for the Yankees during the regular season.

Other than swapping Cortes in for Berti, the Yankees' roster is unchanged from the American League Championship Series. New York eliminated the Cleveland Guardians in five games to clinch its first trip to the World Series since 2009.

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