Nestor Cortes lands on injured list as Yankees lose lefty option for start of postseason

NEW YORK – Over the last few weeks, Nestor Cortes’ reliable performance suggested he’d be a valuable part of the Yankees’ postseason pitching staff.

Now, the lefty might not return to a mound until next season.

Due to start a potential AL East clincher Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles, Cortes was diagnosed with an elbow flexor strain.

Placed on the 15-day injured list, Cortes won't throw for t he next 7-10 days, taking him out of consideration for the AL Division Series, and perhaps all the way through October.

“I don’t know if (I’m) optimistic’’ about Cortes’ return this year, said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “We’re not ruling it out yet. (We’ll) see what we’re dealing with, see if there’s a chance.’’

Cortes wasn’t certain about the severity of his strain, but said the initial MRI showed his ulnar collateral ligament to be in good shape.

“I might be able to rehab this and be good from there,’’ said Cortes, though he’s unsure yet if surgery is in play. He'll undergo a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection in the coming days.

Cortes is also due to have two second opinions, with his MRI evaluated by noted orthopedic specialists Dr. Barry Meister and Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“He’s been throwing the ball so well, too,’’ said Boone. “Certainly feel for him right now. (We) just have to pick up the slack, support him…and we’ll see what we have over the next several days, see how he’s responding.’’

Sorting through the Yankees' playoff options without Nestor Cortes

Relegated to the bullpen since his Sept. 10 start, Marcus Stroman started in Cortes’ place Wednesday, though his postseason role is uncertain.

Based on the best-of-five ALDS schedule, the Yankees could go with just three starters, and a healthy Cortes might have been the choice, with Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil or Stroman potentially ready to fill a relief role.

Now, Schmidt, Gil and possibly Stroman are more sharply in play for a Game 3 ALDS start, and this pitching depth could be essential to a lengthy October run.

“Definitely, the way I’m going about it is to try to come back,’’ said Cortes. “Depending on how far we go and how well I do with the rehab, my main focus is to be able to come back and help this team.’’

Cortes ' last three games - two starts, one relief appearance - had been sharp, pitching to a 0.59 ERA (one earned run in 15.1 innings).

That run began with a 4.1-inning hitless relief stint against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, but Cortes said the brief role switch didn’t contribute to his discomfort.

"I finally felt like things were clicking for me,'' said Cortes, who'd been dealing off and on with some immediate recovery issues, which he experienced more acutely after his last two starts.

Cortes’ bullpen session on Sunday did not go well, and neither did Monday’s flat ground session, forcing the switch to Stroman and the recall of right-hander Cody Poteet.

“It just got harder and harder to bounce back’’ after starts, said Cortes. “I didn’t want to be the guy to come in (Tuesday), warm up for the game and say, ‘I can’t go today.’

“(I) try to put this team in the best position where, if I couldn’t pitch, they had someone else available.’’

In 2023, Cortes made just 12 starts due to two bouts of rotator cuff tendinitis, ending his season on Aug. 6 - a year that concluded with the Yankees missing the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nestor Cortes lands on injured list as Yankees lose lefty option for start of postseason