Nestor Cortes Nearing Return to Brewers: What’s Next for the Rotation?
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Nestor Cortes is on the cusp of returning to the major leagues, with a 90-pitch rehab start scheduled for July 24 at Class AAA Nashville. The team is hopeful that Cortes will rejoin the Brewers’ rotation by the end of July, signaling the next step in his recovery from an elbow injury.
Cortes, who was acquired from the New York Yankees on December 13 in exchange for closer Devin Williams, was initially expected to be a key contributor to the Brewers’ rotation. However, after just two starts to begin the season, the 30-year-old suffered an elbow injury that has sidelined him ever since.
Since then, Cortes has been working his way back with a pair of rehab starts for Nashville, where he’s pitched 8⅓ innings, allowing only three hits, one earned run, and striking out seven batters. He also made a brief appearance for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on July 10, throwing four scoreless innings.
A Rotation Logjam Looms
Cortes’ return to the big leagues could present a challenge for the Brewers’ pitching staff, potentially creating a logjam in the rotation. With Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, and Jose Quintana all in the mix, the Brewers will have to navigate a crowded rotation as they look to fit Cortes back into the fold.
For Cortes, the return from injury marks a critical point in his career. Over his eight seasons in the majors, the lefty has posted a 34-22 record with a 3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings across 137 appearances, including 88 starts. He’s proven to be a reliable option when healthy, and his presence could provide a much-needed boost to Milwaukee’s pitching depth in the second half of the season.
As the Brewers continue their playoff push, Cortes’ ability to reclaim a spot in the rotation could be pivotal. The team will be looking for a seamless transition back into the mix, but with so many arms vying for playing time, it’s clear that competition in the Brewers’ rotation will be fierce in the coming weeks.
What’s Next?
If all goes well in Nashville, Cortes’ return could be imminent, adding another experienced arm to a Brewers pitching staff that is already full of talent. The question remains, though: How will manager Craig Counsell fit Cortes back into the rotation? It’s a good problem to have for a team looking to make a deep run, but one that will require careful management in the weeks ahead.
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