TAMPA — If Nestor Cortes is Aaron Boone’s choice to start on Opening Day, the lefty hasn’t been told.
“We don’t know yet,” Cortes said Friday. “I don’t know yet. I haven’t been told anything. So hopefully we find out today or tomorrow or the next day.”
Or perhaps he’ll find out on March 28 when the Yankees begin their season in Houston.
“’Hey, you’re pitching today,’” Cortes joked, imagining a day-of conversation with Boone.
In all serious, the Yankees only have a few options left for the nod with Gerrit Cole sidelined by his elbow injury. Carlos Rodón is lined up for the second game of the season, while Marcus Stroman is slated to pitch Game 3 after opting against a tweak to his schedule.
“I put a priority on the body,” Stroman said Thursday. “People don’t understand how much changing your schedule at this point in spring — it might seem like it’s easy. ‘Oh, he can do that.’ But every little day matters.”
While Boone has said that things can change, the plans in place leave Cortes and Clarke Schmidt as the only Opening Day options who entered the spring as projected members of the Yankees’ rotation. Both had pitching plans on Friday: Schmidt was scheduled to start against the Pirates, while Cortes was going to throw four ups in live batting practice.
The plan is for Cortes to then pitch in some capacity next Thursday. That would give him six full days of rest before Opening Day.
“The more rest, the better,” he said.
While Cortes isn’t too worried about who will start on Opening Day, he did say it would be “special” to do so. However, he also acknowledged that the circumstances are “not ideal” with Cole out.
“I’m not really even focused on that right now, to be honest,” Cortes said of Opening Day. “I want to finish camp great. I feel like these last two [outings], I want to make sure that I’m getting outs and I’m not allowing any runs. I think we got over the feeling healthy, feeling good part. Now it’s time to perform and do better.
“You’re happy when you get named opening starter. If that’s the case, it would be cool. It’s something to add to the résumé for sure.”
Cortes is coming off a disappointing 2023 season that saw him record a 4.97 ERA over 14 starts. Rotator cuff issues made it difficult for him to recover between outings — much like Cole — but that hasn’t been an issue for Cortes this spring.
Cortes, who has an 8.10 ERA in exhibition play, added that he’s confident in himself and the rest of the Yankees’ rotation in Cole’s absence. The reigning Cy Young winner is avoiding Tommy John surgery for now, but Cole will still miss a solid chunk of time.
“It’s something that I know he’s a little down and a little sad about it,” said Cortes, who talked to Cole earlier this week. “I’m sure he’s trying to reach Hall of Fame numbers, but it’s just a minor setback for him. He’s been great and I know he’s gonna have a long career, more than what he’s already had.”
