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The New York Yankees get potentially devastating news ahead of the 2024 postseason: Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes will undergo an emergency MRI on Wednesday.
Cortes' left elbow will undergo imaging, but Yankees reporter Jack Curry did not detail what exactly is ailing the starting pitcher. He has been effective over his last few outings, but he may be forced onto the bench.
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Cortes was supposed to match up with Zach Eflin with a chance to clinch the division. One win in any of the remaining six games for the Yankees locks down the division title, but it looks like the Yankees will have to turn to other options.
They lost the first game, started by Clarke Schmidt, against the Orioles, leaving the door open ever-so-slightly for a potential comeback.
With Cortes injured and probably not starting, Cody Poteet is expected to join the team. It is also possible that former starter Marcus Stroman will be brought back out of the bullpen to replace Cortes in the rotation if the MRI turns something up.
How the Yankees can manage the postseason without Nestor Cortes
There's no confirmation on what's wrong with Nestor Cortes or if he will miss any time. It's unlikely he pitches Wednesday after an MRI, but that doesn't mean he'd be out for the playoffs.
If the Yankees avoid losing all of their remaining games, they'll enjoy a first-round bye, which means Cortes wouldn't be starting a postseason game until at least October 6 or 7. He'll have almost two weeks to heal.
However, if this is an issue, the Yankees do have some options. They won't be as good as Cortes, since he is the most valuable pitcher by fWAR on the roster with 3.2.
Stroman could take his place in the rotation, but the Yankees could easily operate with a four-man rotation consisting of Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt. Stroman would be back in the pen. Cortes would've been a valuable weapon there, but that may no longer be an option.
