Nestor Cortes Upset by Demotion to Yankees Bullpen

New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes expressed his frustration after being assigned a relief role in a game against the Chicago Cubs. Cortes, who has been a part of the Yankees’ starting rotation since 2021, was surprised by the decision but stated he would accept the change if it becomes permanent.

During the game at Wrigley Field, Cortes pitched 4 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, contributing to a combined four-hit shutout alongside starter Clarke Schmidt, ultimately leading to a 2-0 victory for the Yankees.

The left-handed pitcher did not shy away from sharing his feelings regarding his new role. Cortes labeled himself the “workhorse” of the Yankees’ rotation, especially after being named the Opening Day starter when the team’s ace, Gerrit Cole, was sidelined due to an elbow injury.

“Obviously I was upset,” Cortes said. “I felt like I’ve been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here. Once Cole went down, they picked me to be the Opening Day starter— not necessarily the No. 1, but the Opening Day starter. I had to switch my routine there.”

Reflecting on the recent shift in his usage, he added, “Now they do this.”

This outing marked Cortes’ first appearance in relief since July 23, 2021. With this performance, Cortes improved his season ERA to 3.97 and became the Yankees’ leader in innings pitched, totaling 163 1/3 innings. He needed only 48 pitches to complete his outing against the Cubs, managing one walk and three strikeouts along the way.

“I’m never going to back down from a challenge,” he stated. “I’m never going to leave my teammates out to dry. You’re always going to get my best effort, no matter if I’m happy or not.”

Cortes is set to start one of the Yankees’ upcoming games against the Boston Red Sox next weekend, but his long-term role remains unclear as the Yankees are transitioning back to a five-man starting rotation.

Although Cortes struggled in his most recent start against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he allowed five runs over four innings, he had shown promise in his previous three outings, giving up only one run and striking out 18 in a combined 20 2/3 innings.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Cortes’ ability to perform under pressure, praising his professionalism. “I’m sure he wasn’t thrilled about it this turn around,” Boone said, “but you still got a job to do, and he went and excelled at it.”

However, the return of Schmidt and Luis Gil from the injured list could complicate Cortes’ position on the pitching staff. The rotation also includes Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Marcus Stroman.

Cortes himself admitted uncertainty regarding his future role. “This one caught me by surprise,” he said. “I know they told me that I’m starting against Boston, but after that, with a six-man rotation and off days in between, guys are going to get extra days, and I don’t think that’s necessarily the right move, so we’ll see.”