A big Yankees reinforcement could be on the way if New York reaches the World Series
The New York Yankees must concentrate on their current assignment, which is to defeat the tenacious and consistently underestimated Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. But it was understandable that the typical Yankees fan would consider a prospective World Series matchup with the team leading 2-1 and having home-field advantage.
In the coming days and weeks, it won’t get any easier. The Yankees’ World Series opponent might be either their cross-town rivals from Queens or possibly the most skilled club in the MLB, but the Guardians aren’t going down without a fight. The Yankees aren’t definitely assured ‘favorite’ status in the championship game if New York does progress.
Nevertheless, if New York shuts out Cleveland, it might receive useful reinforcements. With Gerrit Cole fluctuating between ace form and mediocrity during the postseason, the Yankees’ pitching staff has been a roller coaster. The Yankees rotation has unquestionably raw potential, but Luis Gil is inexperienced, Carlos Rodon is infamously inconsistent, and Clarke Schmidt is simply not playing at his best in October.
Nestor Cortes is the one name that is absent; he hasn’t played since September 18 due to a flexor injury. However, the 29-year-old might find himself back on the active roster if the Yankees are able to move on to the next round.
According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, “he’s more in play to me at this point,” he told reporters this week (source: Mike Axisa, CBS Sports). “He still has a ways to go and needs to keep feeling well and recovering, among other things, but the progress made thus far is heartening. He’s at least a viable choice, in my opinion, for the World Series. Though I can’t say for sure, the timeframe suggests that he could be a possibility if all goes according to plan.”
Although the Yankees aren’t planning to commit to Cortes just yet, this is a promising development that might have an impact on baseball’s biggest stage. The Yankees probably wouldn’t instantly throw Cortes back into the fire as a full-on
This time of year, Cortes’ postseason expertise comes in handy. All season long, the Yankees’ superior offensive has been their main asset, but in a World Series game, pitching might be crucial. The Dodgers and the Mets each have some hammers in the middle of their lineups, so winning a firefight wouldn’t be a given for the Yankees. Alternatively, New York might have to earn its victories the hard way by keeping the opposition’s output in check with impressive mound performances.
During the regular season, Cortes made 31 appearances (30 starts), recording a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts in 174.2 innings. The gifted southpaw is a fireball player who would be a valuable asset to the Yankees’ lineup in
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