The New York Yankees could welcome back a key pitcher just in time for Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
After wrapping up their ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians in five games on Saturday, the Yankees are enjoying a much-needed break as they aim for a record 28th championship title. In the upcoming World Series, they will face a tough opponent in the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had the best record in baseball this season and feature a powerful lineup, including likely NL MVP Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers demonstrated their offensive prowess against the New York Mets, accumulating 42 walks in the series, showcasing both their power and patience at the plate. To compete effectively, the Yankees will need strong support from their bullpen, and it seems they might get a significant boost. During a press conference on Monday, manager Aaron Boone mentioned that there’s a “decent chance” Nestor Cortes could return from the injured list for the World Series, depending on the outcome of a bullpen session scheduled for Tuesday.
Cortes, who has been sidelined for the past month due to a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, had a strong bounce-back season, ranking second on the team in innings pitched (174.1), quality starts (13), and wins above replacement (2.6). While he is not expected to start any games in the World Series, he could be an important option out of the bullpen, as he has previous experience in that role.
