New York Yankees Officially Lose Starting Pitcher to Injured List

After being speculated early this week, the New York Yankees have officially lost starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. to the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain.

After being speculated upon earlier this week, the New York Yankees have officially placed starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. on the injured list.

The following comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Cortes was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to June 5, with a left rotator cuff strain.

ANALYSIS
Cortes was diagnosed with the injury earlier this week and is going to be shut down from throwing for at least the next 13 days or so. The best-case scenario probably puts him back in the Yankees' rotation just before the All-Star break. Randy Vasquez will be up to make a spot start in the second half of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox, but New York won't need a dedicated fifth starter again until closer to the end of June.

The Yankees have already dealt with injuries to Luis Severino, Carlos Rodon, Lou Trivino, Tommy Kahnle, Josh Donaldson, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton this year, so this is nothing new for them, unfortunately. Judge was just placed on the injured list again this week, as well.

Cortes is not the same pitcher this year as he was last year. The 28-year-old is 5-2 record-wise, but has labored to a 5.16 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

Last year, he was an All-Star, going 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA.

He's been with the Yankees since 2021, having found a home after bouncing around the previous few years. He spent 2018 with the Orioles, 2019 with the Yankees and 2020 with the Mariners before rebounding in New York again.

The Yankees will host the Chicago White Sox for a doubleheader on Thursday. Game one is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.

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