Prior to the All-Star Break, Nestor Cortes had pitched five innings just once in his MLB career – doing so as the “bulk man” behind Chad Green on June 15, 2019, against the White Sox, earning himself his first major-league win in the process.
Flash forward two years and two months to Sunday, and Cortes set a career high by going six full innings for the very first time…against those very same White Sox, earning himself his first win in over two years (since August 6, 2019) in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory in Chicago.
“That’s a very respectable lineup, but I went in there and got the job done and we came out with the W,” Cortes said after the win. “It was a big series, and coming into this road trip, we knew where we were and what we needed to do. The clubhouse vibe is good right now.”
“He gave us six strong and I thought his stuff was really good today,” added manager Aaron Boone. “I thought his stuff was crisp from jump street, and Higgy (catcher Kyle Higashioka) said early on he knew he had his stuff today – and you have to have it against those guys. It’s a tough lineup to navigate, but he did it well.”
It was a big game with a playoff atmosphere for many reasons, but the story inside the story is how the Yankees, despite being ravaged by injuries and COVID, have gone 19-9 since the All-Star break and are 24-11 since their loss in Game 1 of a July 4 doubleheader with the Mets dropped them to 41-41.
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Perhaps not coincidentally, Game 2 of that doubleheader was a spot start for Cortes, who has since made five more and is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings over his six starts, the best of those his six innings of one-run ball on Sunday – the first quality start of his MLB career.
“He’s unbelievable. The way he can change speeds and attack the zone anywhere at any point is really impressive, and he gave us what we needed today,” Luke Voit said after the Yankees’ win Sunday.
Added Boone: “I think his command and crispness – you could tell from the side his fastball had good life to it, his changeup was good, and he was able to throw any pitch at any time. When he did mix in some of his alternate deliveries, the timing was good and he executed when he did it. All around a really strong effort.”
Those alternate deliveries, and other tricks, are hallmarks Cortes has had to rely on for years. He’s somewhat of an anachronism in that he’s a high-80s to low-90s fastball guy in an era where seemingly throws 100, but he’s bringing new meaning to “crafty lefty.”
“I’ve been doing it for a few years now, and it’s based off of feel. It’s worked for me so far,” Cortes said. “I would love to throw 97 or 98, but getting outs is the most important thing, so as long as I can get the job done and keep getting outs, I’ll stick to what I have. Within the game plan, my catcher and I go over things accordingly, and when the time comes and the opportunity arises, we try to mix it up. Usually with two strikes, but I mix it in so people know I can do it any time.”
Gotta keep ‘em honest, and both Voit and Boone are happy Nestor is being Nasty on their side.
“You just don’t see guys like him anymore. I think it’s awesome for us to have what he can give us when he goes out there,” Voit said. “It’s so different from facing 98 or 99 consistently, and he’s shimmying and trying to mess with your timing. It’s one of those days where you can go 0-for-3 and wonder why. He’s had an up and down career but he seems to have figured it out, and he’s been disgusting.”
“It probably gets on you more than you think, and he gives you a lot to think about,” added Boone. “He has good characteristics to his heater, so you’re going to see 89 to 91, but it plays more than that – and he’s able to cut it or slow it down, too. Then he’ll mix in a slider or changeup, and every now and then mess with you from a timing and delivery standpoint. There’s a lot to cover with him.”
The Yankees get Gerrit Cole back Monday and are likely to get Jordan Montgomery back this week too, giving them a front four in the rotation. That still leaves a fifth spot until one of the group of Domingo German, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, or Michael King is ready to return, and Cortes has shown that he’s more than capable of holding down that fort.
Whatever comes, though, Nasty Nestor is just ready to contribute however he can.
“We’ve done a really good job with guys coming up and holding down the fort,” Cortes said. “The guys are hungry and want to keep this team afloat and we’re battling right now.”
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