Nestor Cortes's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes has been tabbed as the club's Opening Day starter against the Houston Astros on the road on March 28. It was recently reported that Marcus Stroman did not wish to alter his spring schedule to line up for Opening Day, and manager Aaron Boone said Carlos Rodon was not a candidate. With Gerrit Cole (shoulder) on the shelf, it's Cortes who dealt with his fair share of injuries last season, limiting him to just 12 starts. He worked to a 4.97 ERA and a 17.7% K-BB% in that time, just one season after breaking out with a 2.44 ERA across 28 starts in the 2022 campaign. ATC is projecting a bounce-back in 2024 for the 29-year-old, who projects for a 3.97 ERA and a quality 17.8% K-BB% across 26 outings (23 starts) this season.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. allowed just one hit a solo home run during Sunday's Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers. He also issued just one walk, struck out three batters, and lasted four innings, which was an increase over his previous start (2.2 innings). Despite the somewhat mixed results, there's no denying that Cortes pitched much better this Sunday than he did a week earlier against the Minnesota Twins (two runs, seven hits). Fantasy managers should consider the fact that RotoBaller's MLB experts rank Cortes 62nd among pitchers and 230th overall for 2024.

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (shoulder) expects to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. He arrived to the team's spring training facilities early because he wasn't getting over the hump with regards to his rehab for a left-shoulder strain that ended his 2023 campaign early, but the team's training staff has since helped him get there. Cortes is feeling good in camp now and is currently scheduled to pitch in one of the team's exhibition games in Mexico City on March 24-25. The 29-year-old southpaw made just 12 starts in 2023 due to his shoulder injury and doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside as more of a crafty soft-tosser who relies more on inducing weak contact. Coming off injury, Cortes should be considered a late-round flier for fantasy managers.

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (shoulder) said that he's already thrown four live batting practice sessions in spring training as he prepares for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 29-year-old southpaw made his first All-Star team in 2022 but made just 12 starts in 2023 in his third year in the Bronx due to a left rotator-cuff strain. But it appears that he has had a pretty normal offseason and should be ready for Opening Day, barring any setbacks. Cortes struggled when he was on the mound last year, going 5-2 with a 4.97 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP while walking 20 and striking out 67 in 63 1/3 innings. The crafty left-hander could bounce back with better health in 2024, but the soft-tosser has less room for error than most pitchers and relies more on deception and inducing weak contact.