The Yankees bolstered their pitching staff ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Detroit, recalling RHP Nick Nelson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and selecting the contract of LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. from the RailRiders.
The team had two open 26-man roster spots after optioning RHPs Albert Abreu and Deivi Garcia to Triple-A after Saturday’s loss, and to open a 40-man spot for Cortes Jr., the team moved Aaron Hicks to the 60-day injured list.
Nelson, 25, has had multiple stints with the Yankees this year, and is 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA in six games, having allowed nine earned runs and a 1.920 WHIP in 8 1/3 innings. He has struck out 15 batters in those 8 1/3 frames, however.
Cortes Jr., 26, was a stalwart in the Yankees’ bullpen as a bulk man in 2019, and returned to the team on a minor-league deal this winter.
He was 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA and one save in five games (one start) at SWB this year, with 18 Ks and just a 0.600 WHIP in 15 innings.
He was scheduled to start for the RailRiders on Sunday – he effectively took Deivi Garcia’s place in the Triple-A rotation earlier this week, ahead of Garcia’s call-up Saturday – so he can give length if needed behind starter Michael King, who threw 55 pitches on Tuesday and has not yet cracked 70 this season in seven long relief outings.
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