Cortes went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Reds.
Cortes again got the start in left field with Tyler Soderstrom (groin) still out. With three homers over his last three games, Cortes is making a strong case for additional playing time to close out the campaign. The outfielder is up to four homers, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored and a .338/.351/.620 slash line over 74 plate appearances this season.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Goes yard twice in win
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Cortes went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in Friday's 3-0 win over the Reds.
Cortes has three homers over his last three games, though this was his first time in the starting lineup since Aug. 31. He got the start in left field after Tyler Soderstrom (groin) was scratched from the lineup. Cortes has hit .328 with three homers, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, six doubles and one triple across 70 plate appearances in a part-time role. He could take over at least a strong-side platoon role if Soderstrom's injury sidelines him for the rest of the year.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Hits first big-league homer
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Cortes went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run, a double and a second run scored in Saturday's 17-4 win over the Angels.
Cortes entered the game when it was already a blowout and delivered his first big-league homer in the eighth inning. He's been in a bench role since early August, with his performance as a pinch hitter Saturday accounting for just his fourth multi-hit effort. Over 66 plate appearances, he's batting .317 with a homer, five doubles, one triple, eight RBI, seven runs scored and no stolen bases. Cortes doesn't have a ton of power, but he's hit at least 15 homers in each of his three seasons at Triple-A, including 17 long balls in 71 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this year prior to his call-up.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Pair of doubles in loss
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Cortes went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in Saturday's 9-3 loss against the Rangers.
Cortes stood out in Saturday's loss, producing his first multi-hit performance since Aug. 2. Though his playing time has been inconsistent, the outfielder has generally been productive when called upon, slashing .309/.328/.418 with five extra-base hits and four RBI across 58 plate appearances this season. With Tyler Soderstrom covering first base for Nick Kurtz (oblique), there could be more opportunities available for Cortes in left field in the short term.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Losing out on playing time
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Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Cortes has started just once in the last seven games, with the A's facing four lefty starters and three righties during that stretch. Both JJ Bleday and Colby Thomas appear to have moved ahead of Cortes in the outfield pecking order.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Giving way to Bleday on Wednesday
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Cortes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
The left-handed-hitting Cortes was on the bench while the Athletics faced lefties the past two games, but his absence Wednesday with come with a right-handed pitcher (Cade Cavalli) taking the hill for the Nationals. Cortes has posted a strong .797 OPS since receiving his first promotion to the big leagues July 22, so his move to the bench appears to have less to do with his performance than it does the Athletics' desire to keep the hot-hitting JJ Bleday's bat in the lineup. Bleday will get a third straight start in the outfield after going 8-for-10 with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI and five runs between the past two contests.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Idle for series finale
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Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
The left-handed-hitting Cortes had started in each of the Athletics' last five games, but he'll take a seat Sunday while the Diamondbacks send southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill. Brent Rooker will cover right field Sunday, but Cortes should hold down a regular spot in the Athletics outfield against right-handed pitching until Denzel Clarke (hip) returns from the injured list.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Sitting after three straight starts
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Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Though he will hit the bench against southpaw Colton Gordon, Cortes could hold down the strong side of a platoon in right field until the Athletics get Denzel Clarke (adductor) back from the injured list. With Lawrence Butler shifting over to cover Clarke in center, Cortes started against right-handed pitchers in each of the first three games of the series in Houston, going 4-for-11 with three runs and one RBI.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Athletics selected Cortes' contract and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Though Cortes will stick around at Las Vegas to begin the second half, the Athletics' decision to move him to the 40-man roster could clear the way for him to make his MLB debut later this season. The 28-year-old outfielder has enjoyed a big season in the Pacific Coast League thus far, slashing .321/.418/.603 with 16 home runs and as many walks (41) as strikeouts (41) over 299 plate appearances.
