Aaron Boone has talked a lot over the last few days about the Yankees being as whole and healthy as they have been all season heading toward October.
Not so fast.
Nestor Cortes was headed for an MRI exam on his left elbow Wednesday morning, hours before he was scheduled to start against the Orioles with a chance to clinch the AL East.
The left-hander had been strong of late, allowing just one run over his last 15 1/3 innings, which included one appearance out of the bullpen.
The Yankees were still trying to decide whether to use him as a starter in the postseason or as a valuable multi-inning reliever, but those talks were put on hold depending on the results of his MRI.
Assuming Cortes needs to be scratched Wednesday night, the Yankees have Marcus Stroman stretched out in the bullpen or they could call up Cody Poteet from Triple-A.
They would need to open a roster spot to do so, which is possible if Cortes has to go on the injured list.
If it turns out to be something Cortes could come back from after an IL stint, the Yankees would be able to backdate it three days, which would keep him out until at least Oct. 7 — the day of Game 2 of the ALDS.
Cortes missed the second half of last season with a left rotator cuff strain but had been durable this year, throwing a team-hgh 174 ⅓ innings entering Wednesday.
The only time Cortes has gone on the IL in the majors for an elbow issue was in 2020, when he missed time with left elbow impingement.
The Yankees had moved Stroman to the bullpen after his last start two weeks ago, with his lone appearance since being a three-inning save against the Mariners last Tuesday in which he threw 64 pitches.
Poteet had been solid in four spot starts for the Yankees earlier this season before landing on the IL in June with a triceps strain.
He was activated off the 60-day IL last week at the end of his 30-day rehab assignment and optioned to Triple-A, where he had built up to 72 pitches last Tuesday.
