Padres' Nestor Cortes: Slated for another sim game
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Cortes (biceps) will toss another sim game early in the coming week, per MLB.com.
Cortes' most recent sim game, which took place Friday, lasted two innings and went well, according to Padres manager Mike Shildt. The team nonetheless wants the veteran lefty to throw to hitters one more time before potentially returning to the big-league club. That would still give Cortes a chance of being activated from the IL before the end of the regular season, though that likely wouldn't happen until near the end of the coming week.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Set to face hitters this weekend
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Cortes (biceps) is scheduled to face live hitters Friday at the Padres' facility in Arizona, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Cortes has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since landing on the injured list Sept. 5 due to left biceps tendinitis and is now ready to take the next step in the recovery process by facing hitters. Assuming Friday's workout goes well, Cortes will likely be activated from the IL for the final week of the regular season. Cortes doesn't tentatively line up for a start next week, but with the likelihood that the Padres' playoff positioning will be solidified ahead of their final series next weekend versus the Diamondbacks, Acee speculates that Nick Pivetta won't be asked to start against Arizona. As a result, the Padres could turn to Cortes to make a 3-to-4-inning start or bulk-relief appearance at some point during the series.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Resumes mound work
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Cortes (biceps) was cleared to throw off a mound Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Cortes was moved to the injured list Sept. 5 after he experienced left biceps tendinitis coming out of his start two days earlier, but he's already begun to start throwing again following a brief shutdown period. The southpaw isn't on track to return from the IL later this week when first eligible, but he's holding out hope to contribute for the Padres at some point in the final week of the regular season. Cortes had been serving as the Padres' No. 5 starter prior to landing on the shelf, but it's unclear if he would immediately slot back into the rotation if he's activated next week.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Headed for injured list
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The Padres will place Cortes on the injured list due to left biceps tendinitis, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Cortes seemingly picked up the injury during Wednesday's start, when he yielded six runs and four home runs across 2.1 innings against the Orioles. Since being dealt to San Diego from Milwaukee, Cortes has a 5.47 ERA and a 21:13 K:BB across 26.1 innings and six appearances. Michael King (knee) is nearing a return and could fill Cortes' spot in the rotation.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Gives up four homers
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Cortes (2-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks across 2.1 innings. He struck out two.
It was a rough day for the left-hander, who gave up a homer to Jackson Holliday to lead off the game before giving up five runs on three straight long balls in the third. Cortes has pitched only 5.1 innings across his last two starts, giving up nine runs on 12 hits in that span. His ERA is up to 6.29 with a 1.63 WHIP and 29:20 K:BB across 34.1 innings between the Padres and Brewers this season.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Shortened outing yields third loss
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Cortes (2-3) took the loss Friday against the Twins, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in three-plus innings. He struck out two.
It's possible Cortes would have worked deeper into the outing, but he was ejected in the middle of the fourth inning, per Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune. It was still a poor showing by the 30-year-old left-hander, who tied a season low in punchouts and issued multiple free passes for the fifth time in seven starts in 2025. Cortes has an uninspiring 5.06 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB over 32 frames, though he should carry some upside in mixed leagues next week against an Orioles team with a .674 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the beginning of August.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Impressive in second win
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Cortes (2-2) allowed one hit and struck out three without walking a batter over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Saturday.
Cortes turned in his best start of the season, retiring 16 straight batters to begin the game before giving up a single to Miguel Rojas in the sixth inning. This was Cortes' second quality start of the campaign, both of which account for his two wins. He's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:15 K:BB through 29 innings over six starts. The southpaw will look to carry this momentum into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come in Minnesota.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Done in by early homers
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Cortes (1-2) allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Monday.
Cortes gave up all four runs on three home runs in the first inning. He had allowed just one homer over his first two starts as a Padre, but his home debut for the team started poorly, and the damage was too much for his teammates to overcome. On the year, Cortes is now at a 5.87 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 22:15 K:BB through 23 innings across five starts between San Diego and Milwaukee. He is projected for a tough home start versus the Dodgers this weekend.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Strikes out six in no-decision
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Cortes allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Tuesday.
Cortes was an out shy of qualifying for the win. He threw 79 pitches (54 strikes), just three more pitches than he had in his San Diego debut last Wednesday, so it's possible the Padres will keep some limits in place. He's allowed a total of three runs on nine hits and four walks over 9.1 innings over his two starts with the Padres. The southpaw is tentatively scheduled for a rematch with the Giants early next week, which will be in San Diego.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Comes off injured list
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The Padres reinstated Cortes (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Shortly after being acquired from the Brewers at the trade deadline, Cortes will join the Padres' 26-man active roster after missing about four months due to a flexor strain. The left-hander threw 93 pitches over 5.2 innings during his final rehab outing at Triple-A Nashville on July 24, so he should be able to handle a full starter's workload whenever he makes his Padres debut. The open spot in San Diego's rotation lines up for next weekend versus Boston, but the Padres could have Cortes take the mound during the three-game series in Arizona that begins Monday.
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Brewers' Nestor Cortes: Nearing end of rehab assignment
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Cortes (elbow) is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance Thursday and is expected to throw around 90 pitches, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
Cortes has thus far made three rehab appearances between High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville, covering 12.1 innings in total and striking out nine while allowing one run on six hits and two walks. Assuming he checks out fine physically following Thursday's outing, Cortes will likely be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list next week. Though all five of the Brewers' starting pitchers are pitching effectively at the moment, Milwaukee could expand to a six-man rotation in order to accommodate Cortes' return.
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Brewers' Nestor Cortes: Continuing rehab stint
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Cortes (elbow) will continue his rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Wisconsin, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.
The veteran left-hander covered three scoreless innings during his first rehab outing with Triple-A Nashville on July 2, and he'll attempt to build up to around the 65-pitch mark Thursday. After his upcoming outing with Wisconsin, Cortes is likely to make an additional rehab start before potentially rejoining Milwaukee's rotation shortly after the All-Star break. Cortes has been on the shelf since April 6 due to a left elbow flexor strain.
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Brewers' Nestor Cortes: Goes on IL with elbow strain
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The Brewers placed Cortes on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left elbow flexor strain.
After serving up five home runs and allowing eight runs in total over two innings against the Yankees in his Brewers debut March 29, Cortes bounced back nicely in his second start Thursday, holding the Reds scoreless while allowing one hit and two walks over six innings in a winning effort. Per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewers assistant general manager Matt Kleine said Sunday that Cortes was nursing the elbow issue heading into his start against Cincinnati, and Milwaukee wasn't confident that he would be ready to go for his next turn through the rotation. Kleine expressed optimism that the elbow strain isn't a "long-term issue," however. Cortes is eligible to return from the IL on April 19.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Included on World Series roster
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Cortes (elbow) was added to the Yankees' World Series roster Friday.
Cortes has been shelved since late September with a left flexor strain but had faced hitters a couple times over the past week and bounced back with no issues. The left-hander is expected to be used in relief by the Yankees, although it's unclear how many innings he might be able to go.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Throwing live batting practice
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Cortes (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
It will be something of a hybrid bullpen session/live batting practice session, as Cortes is slated to throw 10-to-15 pitches off the bullpen mound before throwing another 10-to-15 to hitters. If all goes well, Cortes could face hitters again this weekend. The southpaw has been out since late September with a flexor strain but has a chance to be on the Yankees' World Series roster, should they advance. Cortes hasn't started a game in nearly a month, so if he does return for the World Series, it seems likely to be as a reliever.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Out for ALCS; World Series possible
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Cortes (elbow) is not on the Yankees' ALCS roster but is in play for the World Series, should they advance, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he's "really excited" where Cortes is at in his recovery from a left flexor strain. The southpaw resumed throwing a little over a week ago and could face hitters by this weekend. Cortes has been shelved since late September.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Ramps up intensity
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Cortes (elbow) has continued to throw and was able to increase the intensity in Thursday's session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes maintains hope to pitch in the ALCS as the Yankees are a win away from advancing Thursday. The left-hander continues to make strides in his recovery from the flexor strain, but his availability for the rest of the playoffs remains up in the air.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Catch goes well
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Cortes (elbow) played catch Sunday, which went well according to Yankees' pitching coach Matt Blake, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Cortes is working his way back from a left elbow flexor strain, and he's hopeful to pitch in the ALCS if New York is able to advance. His ability to throw with no issues Sunday is promising, and his next step will depend on how he responds Monday.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Hoping for return late in playoffs
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Cortes (elbow) said he's hopeful to return from the 15-day injured list at some point late in the postseason if the Yankees make a deep run, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cortes had been scheduled to start Wednesday against the Orioles, but he was scratched from the outing due to an elbow issue and was sent in for an MRI. He was diagnosed with a left elbow flexor strain and subsequently placed on the IL, making him ineligible to rejoin the Yankees until at least the ALCS. Cortes noted that he will be shut down for the next 7-to-10 days after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection for his elbow while also seeking at least two other doctors for further opinions on a treatment plan. On a positive note, Cortes told Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com that his UCL remains intact, so the lefty appears likely to avoid surgery and will hope to make a full recovery through rest and rehab.
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Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Undergoing MRI on elbow
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Cortes will undergo an MRI on his left elbow Wednesday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Cortes had been slated to start Wednesday's game against the Orioles, but his immediate future is now cloudy while he awaits the MRI results. The veteran left-hander has been excellent lately, allowing just one earned run over his last 15.1 innings of work and boasting a 1.58 ERA covering his last 40 frames. Marcus Stroman -- whose last outing was a three-inning relief appearance Sept. 17 -- is a likely candidate to start Wednesday's contest. Cody Poteet is also expected to join the club at Yankee Stadium, although it's unclear whether he'll join the taxi squad or be added to the active roster.
