NESTOR CORTES NEWS

Can't escape sixth inning Cortes (2-2) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Athletics after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while fanning four across 5.1 innings.

Impact Cortes was coming off two straight quality starts but was unable to extend the streak here, as the Athletics chased him out of the game with two outs left in the sixth after a single from Mark Canha. The left-hander has struggled to pitch deep into games, but he has been doing a good job so far and has given up three or fewer runs in six of his last seven appearances.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stanton slugs Yankees past A's 8-2, Cole wins third straight

Giancarlo Stanton homered for a fourth straight game, Aaron Judge hit a three-run shot in front of friends and family, and the New York Yankees extended their best winning streak i...

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans seven in win Cortes (2-1) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings, earning the win over Minnesota on Friday.

Impact The southpaw's only mistake was a two-run home run to Josh Donaldson in the sixth inning, but the Yankees were never in any real danger Friday. Cortes has turned in quality starts his last two times on the hill. He's at a 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings in 15 appearances (seven starts). It's unclear if Cortes has done enough to keep himself in the rotation, but if he takes another turn, it would likely be in Oakland during next weekend's four-game series.

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Voit's 4 hits spark streaking Yanks to 10-2 rout of Twins

Luke Voit backed his recent demand for playing time with a homer, four hits and four RBIs, and the surging New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 10-2 for their season-high eigh...

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. has been enshrined in Yankees lore for 2021 performance Nestor Cortes Jr., the squat soft tosser with a reservoir of different deliveries, has put the battery in the Yankees’ back.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • MCALL.COM

Picks up first win Cortes (1-1) allowed one run on seven hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win over the White Sox.

Impact Cortes coughed up six singles through five shutout frames before Andrew Vaughn finally broke through with a solo shot in the sixth. It was the longest outing of his career and his seven punchouts tied his career best. The 26-year-old has finished at least five innings in each of his last four outings and his season ERA fell to 2.55 after Sunday's performance. Cortes is currently lined up to face the Twins at home next week.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes first loss Cortes (0-1) was tagged with the loss against Kansas City on Tuesday as a result of allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Impact Cortes received another start due to the Yankees' depleted rotation, but he couldn't replicate the success that saw him allow only three earned runs over his previous 10 innings. The left-handed hurler was tormented by Salvador Perez, who slugged two home runs against him in the contest. Cortes did manage to take down a season-high 5.2 frames, but he also yielded season highs in hits (seven) and earned runs (four). It remains to be seen how long he'll remain in the rotation given the looming returns of Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery, both of whom remain on the COVID-19 injured list, but Cortes should get at least one more opportunity to start. He's in line to face the White Sox on the road this weekend.

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains in rotation Cortes is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Royals, Justin Shackil of WFAN Sports Radio 66 New York reports.

Impact With two starting pitchers (Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery) residing on the COVID-19 injured list and four more (Domingo German, Michael King, Corey Kluber and Luis Severino) on the 10- or 60-day IL, Cortes will get a second straight turn through the rotation out of necessity. The lefty turned in a respectable showing his last time out versus the Mariners on Aug. 5, working five frames while giving up two runs on five hits and three walks.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tosses five innings Thursday Cortes allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings Thursday against Seattle. He did not factor in the decision.

Impact The left-handed hurler finished with his second straight five-inning start after spending most of the beginning of the campaign in the bullpen. He gave up a season-high five hits in addition to three walks but navigated around the frequent baserunners to hold Seattle to two runs. Cortes has posted a 2.15 ERA on the season and has found success as a fill-in starter, but his time in the rotation is likely contingent on the return timeframes of Gerrit Cole (COVID-19), Jordan Montgomery (COVID-19), Domingo German (shoulder) and Corey Kluber (shoulder). In addition, Luis Severino (groin/elbow) has started a minor-league rehab assignment and could make his long-awaited return to the big club in the coming weeks.

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gallo's 1st homer in pinstripes gives Yanks 5-3 win over M's

Joey Gallo hit his first homer as a Yankee, a go-ahead, three-run blast in the seventh inning, and New York beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets Thursday start Cortes is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Mariners, YES Network reports.

Impact The lefty initially appeared on track to make his fourth start of the season Tuesday against the Orioles after Gerrit Cole (illness) was moved to the COVID-19 injured list, but Cortes was bypassed for the nod in favor of prospect Luis Gil, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Until Cole clears all COVID-19-related health and safety protocols, the Yankees should have room in the rotation for both Cortes and Gil. Cortes will get the ball for the start of the Yankees' four-game series with Seattle after he limited the Rays to one run on three hits while striking out five in five frames back on July 28.

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cortes Jr. expected to start as Yankees host the Mariners

The Mariners will start Tyler Anderson on Thursday while the Yankees are expected to counter with Nestor Cortes Jr

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rizzo delivers again for new team, Yankees rout Orioles 10-3

Recently acquired Anthony Rizzo homered again,  DJ LeMahieu drove in four runs and the New York Yankees cruised to a 10-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays beat Mariners 4-3 to avoid season series sweep

Randy Arozarena had a two-run triple during a three-run third and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to avoid a season series sweep

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Won't start Tuesday Cortes won't start Tuesday's game against the Orioles as anticipated, with the Yankees instead announcing that Luis Gil will be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to rec...

Impact Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he was leaning toward having Cortes make a second turn through the rotation Tuesday as a replacement for Gerrit Cole, who tested positive for COVID-19. After further deliberation, however, the Yankees ultimately chose to call up one of their top pitching prospects to make the spot start. The Yankees haven't announced their plans for Cortes moving forward, but there's a decent chance he picks up another start this week with the team still needing to replace another rotation member in Domingo German (shoulder), who was placed on the injured list Sunday. Cortes -- who tossed five innings of one-run ball July 28 against the Rays -- could be the leading candidate to take the hill when German's next turn comes up Thursday against the Mariners.

AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to start Tuesday Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Cortes will likely start Tuesday's game against the Orioles, SportsNet New York reports.

Impact With Gerrit Cole having tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Cortes looks like the next man up to join the rotation. After landing on the COVID-19 injured list himself coming out of the All-Star break, Cortes was cleared to return to action a week later and was called on to make a spot start July 28 as a replacement for the injured Michael King's (finger). He allowed one run on three hits while fanning five across five innings in a no-decision versus the Rays.

AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sharp in no-decision Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 extra-inning win over the Rays, allowing one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out five without walking a bat...

Impact While he was originally expected to have a cap of about 60 pitches in his return from the COVID-19 list, Cortes instead tossed 79 (52 strikes) and pitched well enough to earn a win. The Cuban lefty could find himself moving back to the bullpen once Luis Severino (elbow) completes his recovery even if the Yankees don't add another starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but Cortes has been outstanding in any role this season, posting a 1.93 ERA and 39:10 K:BB through 32.2 innings.

JULY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Judge hits tiebreaking single in 10th, Yankees beat Rays 3-1

Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning as the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1

JULY 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP source: Yanks reach deal to get slugger Gallo from Texas

A person familiar with the swap tells The Associated Press that the New York Yankees have reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers

JULY 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Preparing for 60-pitch start Cortes said he expects to be capped around 60 pitches in his start Wednesday against the Rays, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Impact Since being reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Cortes has been available out of the bullpen only in an emergency, as New York has been preparing for him to step into the rotation as its new fifth starter in place of Asher Wojciechowski, who was designated for assignment last week and later released. Because of the time he missed coming out of the All-Star break due to his positive COVID-19 test, Cortes isn't fully stretched out for a traditional start, so the Yankees will act conservatively with his workload Wednesday. How Cortes fares against the Rays along with what additions the Yankees make prior to Friday's trade deadline will likely determine whether the lefty picks up additional starts beyond Wednesday.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could start Wednesday Manager Aaron Boone hasn't finalized his rotation plans but tentatively expects Cortes to start Wednesday at Tampa Bay, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 26-year-old surrendered three runs over two innings out of the bullpen Friday in his first appearance back from the injured list, and he's now slated to rejoin the rotation. It was the first time all season Cortes gave up multiple earned runs in an appearances, as he's been lights out with a 1.95 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB over 27.2 innings this season.

JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Endures rough outing in return Cortes allowed three runs on three hits across two innings Friday versus Boston. He struck out three batters and did not issue a walk.

Impact The left-handed hurler was activated from the COVID-19 injured list earlier in the day and got into the division clash with Boston leading by two runs in the sixth inning. Cortes got through his first frame unscathed, but Rafael Devers tagged him for a three-run homer in the seventh that broke the game open for the Red Sox. The blast accounted for as many earned runs against Cortes (three) as he had allowed through 25.2 innings prior to Friday. He still carries an impressive 1.95 ERA on the season.

JULY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from COVID IL Cortes (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

Impact Cortes has been on the shelf since July 15, when he tested positive for the virus, but he'll rejoin the team Friday after a relatively brief absence. The left-hander owns a 1.05 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB in 25.2 innings (nine appearances) this season.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing return Cortes (illness) has resumed throwing at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa and could be reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list as soon as this weekend, Pete Caldera...

Impact Whether New York reinstates Cortes from the IL during its four-game series with the Red Sox that begins Thursday may ultimately hinge on what kind of innings totals the club gets from its starting pitchers in the first two or three contests in Boston. If a healthy Cortes isn't needed as a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen this weekend, he could rejoin the Yankees in a starting role next week. With Michael King (finger) facing an uncertain timeline to return and with the club dropping Asher Wojciechowski from the 40-man roster after an ugly spot start Wednesday, Cortes could be a candidate to fill the final opening in the Yankees' rotation.

JULY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tests positive for COVID-19 Cortes tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Impact Cortes was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, and general manager Brian Cashman revealed that the southpaw is one of at least three Yankees who have tested positive for the virus. He'll be away from the team for at least 10 days, but it's not yet clear whether his absence could extend beyond that.

JULY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE