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Player Outlook
The crafty lefty cemented his spot in the Yankees' starting rotation in 2022 with a 2.44 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 163:38 K:BB across 158.1 innings, but he made just 12 starts in 2023 due to a rotator cuff strain. Nestor Cortes also struggled when available last season and finished with a 4.97 ERA over 63.1 innings to go along with a 1.6 HR/9 and a career-worst 40.1 percent hard-hit rate. A 3.71 xERA indicates some unfortunate results, while a 4.84 xFIP paints a less favorable underlying picture. Cortes' reliance on different arm angles and deliveries leaves less margin for error on his pitches, especially since his stuff doesn't really stand out. It also makes him more difficult to evaluate, as the numbers themselves tell less of a story than with most pitchers. A positive regression seems likely in 2024, but Cortes' lack of year-to-year track record leaves some risk coming off a poor campaign.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 0.00 0.00
2023 140.511.7 63.3 5 2 67 20 4.97 1.25
2022 468.516.7 158.3 12 4 163 38 2.44 0.92
3y Avg. 271.512.9 105.0 6 3 111 28 3.09 1.04
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
94%
Roster
79%
Start
#52
SP Rank

Fantasy News

  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Falters in final tune-up

    Cortes tossed four innings against Atlanta in a Grapefruit League game Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters. With Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to miss extended time at the start of the campaign, Yankees manager Aaron Boone named Cortes the team's Opening Day starter last week. The left-handed hurler got the ball for what's expected to be his final spring outing Thursday, and he worked up to 75 pitches. Cortes gave up just one run through four frames, but Atlanta tagged him for three straight hits -- a homer, a triple and a single, in that order -- resulting in two runs before he was pulled without retiring a batter in the fifth. If this was in fact Cortes' final appearance before next Thursday's Opening Day outing, he'll finish spring play with an 8.10 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 10 innings.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Starting Opening Day

    Manager Aaron Boone on Friday named Cortes the Yankees' starter for Opening Day against the Astros on March 28, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports. The Yankees had to alter their pitching plans with Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to begin the season on the injured list, and Cortes will end up taking the ball for the opener. The veteran lefty was limited to 12 starts last season due to a shoulder strain and had a 4.97 ERA across 63.1 innings, but New York would benefit if he can return to the form that saw him post a 2.61 ERA between 2021 and 2022.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Expects to be ready for Opening Day

    Cortes (shoulder) said Friday that he expects to be ready for Opening Day, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. Cortes missed a large chunk of the 2023 season with a left shoulder strain. He noted Friday that he'd had trouble getting over the hump with his shoulder earlier this offseason while throwing on his own, but once he shifted his rehab to the Yankees' spring training complex in December, things have been trending up. Cortes is tentatively lined up to pitch one of the Yankees' exhibition games in Mexico City on March 24-25.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing off mound without issue

    Cortes (shoulder) said Thursday that he's already thrown four live batting practice sessions this spring, YES Network reports. A left rotator cuff strain limited Cortes to just 12 starts last season, with the last one coming in early August. He's been throwing for most of the offseason, though, and it doesn't appear he'll face any restrictions during spring training. A healthy Cortes and Carlos Rodon would go a long way in stabilizing the Yankees' rotation.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Set to earn $4 million in 2024

    Cortes (shoulder) signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Cortes was limited to only 12 starts and 63.1 innings during 2023 due to a shoulder injury. Though he finished the year with a 4.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, he still maintained an impressive 17.7 K-BB% and should get better results in 2024 if he can stay healthy.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Begins throwing program

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Cortes (shoulder) recently began a throwing program and is doing well, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. Cortes was limited to only 12 starts this season due to a left shoulder issue, making his last appearance in mid-August. An extended period of rest has evidently done him some good, and he hopes to head into spring training without any physical limitations.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Unlikely to return this season

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cortes (shoulder) will start a throwing program soon but isn't expected to return to game action this season, MLB.com reports. Cortes has been on the injured list since Aug. 11 due to a left rotator cuff strain. Boone indicated the southpaw will resume throwing this weekend, so he appears to be improving in his recovery, but the Yankees skipper also said that Cortes' season is likely over. If that's the case, Cortes will finish 2023 with a 4.97 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 67:20 K:BB and 5-2 record over 63.1 innings covering 12 starts.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Back to IL with rotator cuff strain

    Cortes was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 8, with a left rotator cuff strain. Cortes just returned this past Saturday from a two-month absence due to a left shoulder strain and struck out eight of the 14 batters he faced in a strong four-inning start against the Astros. His shoulder is apparently still an issue, however, and the 28-year-old southpaw will be shut down from throwing for another month, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. This could wind up being a season-ending setback. Jhony Brito has been called up in a corresponding move and will presumably start in Cortes' place this weekend in Miami.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Fans eight in return to rotation

    Cortes did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over four innings against Houston. He struck out eight. Cortes walked Jose Altuve to open the game before striking out the side, all swinging, to get out of the inning. The lefty would then give up a solo home run to Altuve in the third, though it was the only hit he allowed over his four innings of work while posting a season-high eight strikeouts. Cortes even struck out the side in order before heading to the bench. He's now fanned at least five batters in each of his last four starts. The Yankees certainly have to feel good about what they saw out of Cortes in his return to the rotation following the shoulder injury.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Activated ahead of Saturday's start

    Cortes (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Astros. Cortes' rehab assignment was initially expected to include one more start before he joined the big-league rotation next week, but he will instead slot in this weekend. His most recent rehab start was July 28, in which he threw 49 pitches over four innings, so Cortes will probably need to be pretty efficient to go deep enough to qualify for the win in this one. He was expected to throw only 60 pitches in the rehab start that got nixed.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Set for Saturday return

    Cortes (shoulder) is set to return from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday against the Astros, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports. The lefty cut short his minor-league rehab assignment and will step in this weekend as a replacement for Domingo German, who is out for the remainder of the season as he undergoes treatment for alcohol abuse. Cortes is expected to be limited to around 60 pitches in his first start back against a tough Houston offense, and he tentatively lines up to face the Marlins his next time through. The 28-year-old left-hander has been sidelined since late May because of a shoulder strain.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Next rehab start coming Wednesday

    Cortes (shoulder) will make his third rehab start Wednesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. The Yankees haven't yet revealed which minor-league affiliate Cortes will pitch for during Wednesday's appearance, but he's slated to throw around 60 pitches in what's expected to be his final rehab start. Assuming he feels good after his minor-league appearances, he'll likely be able to rejoin the Yankees' rotation Aug. 7 or Aug. 8.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: One more rehab start on tap

    Cortes (shoulder) is expected to throw around 60 pitches in a third and final rehab start next week, Matt Kardos of MiLB.com reports. Cortes tossed 49 pitches, 36 for strikes, in Friday's rehab start for Double-A Somerset. He struck out five and allowed two hits and one walk in four scoreless innings. It's unclear where he will make his final rehab start next week, but if all goes well, Cortes would line up to rejoin the Yankees rotation Aug. 7 or Aug. 8 on the road against the White Sox.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Making another rehab start Friday

    Cortes (shoulder) will make a minor-league rehab appearance with Double-A Somerset on Friday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. This will be Cortes' second rehab outing after he pitched 2.1 innings for Somerset on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and posting four strikeouts. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that the left-handed hurler will likely make one more rehab start after Friday before he's activated. That puts Cortes in line to possibly return to the big-league rotation during a road series against the White Sox that begins Aug. 7.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Nearing rehab assignment

    Cortes (shoulder) will throw to live hitters again Monday and is expected to kick off a minor-league rehab assignment soon thereafter, per MLB.com. Cortes tossed a 20-pitch simulated game last Sunday, and he proclaimed himself to be "totally pain free" afterward. The southpaw then threw a live batting practice session Thursday and again emerged without any issues, so he appears to be just about past the shoulder strain that has kept him out of game action since May 30. If all goes well over the remainder of Cortes' rehab, he'll likely rejoin the Yankees' rotation during the first week of August.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: One week from mound work

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Cortes (shoulder) is roughly a week away from throwing off a mound, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. Cortes landed on the injured list June 8 with a left rotator cuff strain and just began throwing Sunday. He'll presumably throw multiple bullpen sessions before facing live hitters and potentially beginning a rehab assignment, making a return to the Yankees' rotation still a few weeks away.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing from 75 feet

    Cortes (shoulder) felt good after playing catch Sunday and is slated to stretch his throwing out to 75 feet Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. Cortes was given a recovery day Monday before continuing his flat-ground work Tuesday. He had been shut down for two weeks with a left rotator cuff strain but is now slowly ramping things back up. In all likelihood, Cortes won't be ready to return prior to the All-Star break.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: To resume throwing Sunday

    Cortes (shoulder) is scheduled to resume throwing Sunday, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. Cortes can now begin the buildup process following a two-week shutdown period for a left rotator cuff strain. He'll start with flat-ground work before eventually advancing to the mound with the aim of returning to the Yankees' starting rotation sometime in July. He was placed on the injured list June 8.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Officially placed on IL

    Cortes was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to June 5, with a left rotator cuff strain. Cortes was diagnosed with the injury earlier this week and is going to be shut down from throwing for at least the next 13 days or so. The best-case scenario probably puts him back in the Yankees' rotation just before the All-Star break. Randy Vasquez will be up to make a spot start in the second half of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox, but New York won't need a dedicated fifth starter again until closer to the end of June.
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  • Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Likely heading to injured list

    Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Cortes will likely be placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports. Cortes tossed a season-high 101 pitches Tuesday against the Angels and allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six in five innings to earn the win. However, he wasn't listed as a probable starter for the Yankees during their upcoming series against the White Sox, and he's apparently dealing with a shoulder issue that will force him to miss time. The southpaw will undergo an MRI on Monday or Tuesday to determine the extent of his injury. However, Boone hopes Cortes will miss just two or three starts. It's not yet clear who will take Cortes' place in the rotation.
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