Tag Archives: Nestor Cortes

March 29, 2025

Games of the Day

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The first full slate of games for 2025 starts with the Brewers at the Yankees as former bomber Nestor Cortes faces new ace Max Fried. Cortes went 16-7 with a 3.22 ERA at home for the Yankees, walking just 2.3 batters per nine innings. Fried is 3-1 in five career starts against Milwaukee with a 2.67 ERA, but has not faced them since 2022.

Max Scherzer makes his debut for the Blue Jays as they host the Orioles and Dean Kremer. The Blue Jays knocked Kremer around a bit, as he owns 4.82 ERA against them in 56 innings. That includes eleven Blue Jays homers. Scherzer stands nine strikeouts behind Justin Verlander for most in the 21st century.

Verlander and the Giants takes on Nick Lodolo and the Reds. Lodolo pitched better in 2024 than his 4.76 ERA indicates. He was hurt by allowing a .506 slugging percentage with men on base.

Walker Buehler makes his Red Sox debut as the series in Texas continues against Tyler Mahle. The poorly named pitcher does not live up to his first name, as he walked just 2.4 batters per nine IP in his career. The Rangers signed Mahle last year while he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he managed 12 2/3 innings in 2024. He struck out 14 and walked five in 17 spring training innings.

Enjoy!

February 17, 2025

Changes, Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers acquired the following players for their 2025 active roster:

Caleb Durbin, utility
Nestor Cortes, starting pitcher
Tyler Alexander, relief pitcher
Connor Thomas, relief pitcher

Both Durbin and Thomas have no MLB experience. Durbin came over from the Yankees with Nestor Cortes in the Devin Williams trade. Thomas was a rule five draftee from the Cardinals.

Durbin had a great season at AAA in 2024, hitting .297/.396/.471. Note that in his minor league career he always did a great job of getting on base, but the power was new. We’ll see if that holds up in the majors.

Cortes rebounded from an injury shortened 2023 to post a very good 2024. FanGraphs and Baseball Reference differ on his WAR; FG putting him at 3.1, BR at 2.6. Most importantly, he managed 174 1/3 innings, the most he threw in a season. He will play 2025 as a 30 year old, meaning the Yankees traded him early rather than too late.

Alexander and Thomas give the Brewers two more left-handed pitchers in the bullpen. Both project to be low walk, low strikeout pitchers, so they will keep the fielders busy.

Note that middle infielders Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz don’t project to get on base much. That gives Durbin a chance to improve the team by taking one of their spots.

The Brewers are another team that does very little in the off season, but I do like the Williams trade for them.

December 13, 2024

Brewers Land Cortes

The Brewers sent their soon to be free agent closer Devin Williams to the Yankees for Nestor Cortes and minor league infielder Caleb Durbin. From a WAR perspective, the pitchers are more even than one might think. I’m not sure it’s all that tough to find a closer in this age where pitchers are taught to go maximum effort on every pitch. So the Brewers believe they can replace Williams and use Cortes as a reliable five to six inning starter.

Williams allows the Yankees to put their relievers in the correct rolls so none of the Yankees starters need to go deep.

What may tip the trade in favor of the Brewers is Durbin, an infielder who gets on base. I would not describe him as a prospect, as he will play 2025 as a 25 year old. He lacked power until last season, but could be a spark plug at the top of the order. We’ll see how he handles major league pitching.

September 12, 2024

Games of the Day

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The Red Sox come into Yankee Stadium four games out of the third wild card slot in the AL as Cooper Criswell faces Nestor Cortes. Criswell tends to give up hits, in part due to a low strikeout rate. He compensates by limiting home runs and walks. Cortes does a better job of limiting hits, but batters can take him deep as he allowed 23 home runs in 163 1/3 innings. This is the first time in his career he crossed the 162 inning qualifying barrier. He owns the fifth lowest walks per nine innings in the AL.

Kumar Rocker makes his MLB debut for the Rangers in Arizona against Bryce Miller. Rocker right now is known more for his draft history. Taken by the Mets in 2021, New York decided not to sign him due to medical concerns. The Rangers signed him the next season, only to see his 2023 season in the minors lead to Tommy John surgery. His promotion to the majors was unexpected:

But Rocker forced their hand.

He made two starts following a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock in late August, allowing just four hits and two runs over 10 innings while punching out a whopping 18 batters, including a career-best 10 strikeouts on Aug. 28.

“I think you have to look at the body of work,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday. “It’s really, really impressive. It’s something he’s earned and he’s a big part of the Rangers’ future. Why not give him some time up here?”
MLB.com

It seems he has “a Batmobile so I can reach ya in a fast shake.”

Miller, in his second MLB season, lowered his ERA by over a run. He is part of a rotation, with George Kirby and Logan Gilbert who are very stingy with walks.

Enjoy!

August 13, 2024

Soto Feat?

Juan Soto drove in all four Yankees runs against the White Sox with three home runs. He will come up in the top of the ninth with a chance to tie the single game record of four home runs, accomplished 18 times. The Yankees lead the White Sox 4-0 going to the bottom of the eighth inning, Nestor Cortes spinning seven shutout innings.

Update: Soto walked on a 3-1 pitch way inside in the top of the ninth. The Yankees lead 4-1.

July 5, 2024

Games of the Day

The Mets travel to Pittsburgh to get their first look at Paul Skenes. Luis Severino takes the mound for the Queens men. Severino gives the Mets some length in his starts, averaging over just six innings per start. He is another pitcher limiting hits without a high K rate. You can’t spell Skenes without the K, and so far he blew away 70 batters in 52 1/3 innings. Note that if hitters can get the bat on the ball they do well, with a .322 BABIP and six home runs. It’s just tough meeting the ball with regularity.

The Red Sox visit the Yankees, Boston in third place, 5 1/2 games behind second place New York in the AL East and the Wild Card race. Since the Yankees slide started on 6/15, Boston stands 12-4, New York 4-13. That is the worst record in the majors, while the Red Sox are second, 1/2 game behind the surging Astros. Tanner Houck takes on Nestor Cortes. Houck surpassed his inning total of last year in four fewer starts. His 2.67 ERA comes from cutting both his walk and home runs rates by more than half from 2023. Cortes is Mr. Home this season, 4-3 with a 1.83 ERA in nine starts. He walked just six batters in 58 2/3 innings.

The Braves have been a great second half team during their run of dominance, and they get a chance to gain on the Phillies this weekend. Aaron Nola visits Max Fried. The two faced each other four times in their career, and Fried usually comes out on top. Nola is 0-3 in those games with a 6.86 ERA, Fried 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA.

Finally, the Orioles visit the Athletics. Oakland just completed their second consecutive shutout, eighteen consecutive scoreless innings. Albert Suarez takes on Hogan Harris. Suarez does a great job limiting power, holding opponents to a .341 slugging percentage. Harris brings a 3.16 ERA into the game, That seems to be a bit low given the batting stats against him, but four of the eighteen runs he allowed were unearned.

Enjoy!

June 23, 2024

Games of the Day

The Braves and Yankees play the rubber game of their series in The Bronx with a battle of lefties, Max Fried and Nestor Cortes. Fried comes into the game with a 3.11 ERA. With a high ratio of ground balls to fly outs, he induced ten double plays in 48 opportunities. All four of Cortes’ wins came at home this season, where his ERA stands at 1.57.

Logan Webb and Sonny Gray battle in St. Louis as the Giants face the Cardinals. Webb walked just 21 batters and allowed just five home runs in 99 1/3 innings. Gray adds a high strikeout rate to his low walk and home run numbers, having K’d 95 batters in 76 1/3 innings.

Finally, the Brewers and Padres send Tobias Myers against Michael King. The rookie Myers owns a 3.26 ERA in ten appearances, include nine starts. He allowed eight home runs in 47 innings, but six of those were solo shots. He allowed a .120 BA with runners in scoring position. King allowed just 74 hits in 87 2/3 innings, but 13 of those were home runs.

Enjoy!

June 18, 2024

Games of the Day

The second place Orioles travel to New York to face the first place Yankees with Albert Suarez and Nestor Cortes on on the mound. Suarez sports a 1.61 ERA thanks to a greatly reduced home run rate this season. He allowed just one dinger in 44 2/3 innings. Cortes pitched much better at home this season, allowing a .191/.220/.296 slash line in The Bronx, a .287/.337/.497 line on the road.

The Mets own a six-game win streak after pounding the Rangers 14-2 Monday night. Luis Severino takes on Michael Lorenzen on Tuesday. Severino’s strikeout rate stands at 6.92 per nine innings, which would be his lowest single season rate. He still manages to limit hits, including home runs. Lorenzen’s ERA is helped by inducing ten double plays in 34 opportunities, and base stealers getting caught in three of their five attempts.

It’s Marvel vs. DC in Chicago as Logan Webb of the Giants battles Justin Steele of the Cubs. Webb slings sinkers, sliders, and changeups about equally, keeping batters guessing at the speed of the pitches. Steele is a bit bullet proof against power, holding opponents to a .368 slugging percentage this season.

Enjoy!

June 8, 2024

Games of the Day

The Phillies “visit” the Mets as the two teams square off in London at 1 PM EDT. Ranger Suarez faces Sean Manaea. Suarez tries to become the first ten-game winner in the majors, coming into the game with a 1.70 ERA. He allowed just five home runs in 74 innings. Manaea does a great job of limiting power in general. Opponents slug just .341 against him this season.

With six wins in a row, the last two against the Cubs, the Reds are now tied for second place in the NL Central. Chicago sends Ben Brown against Andrew Abbott. The rookie Brown posted excellent three-true outcome numbers in his first 51 1/3 innings, allowing just three home runs. Abbott now owns a 3.68 ERA in his first 178 1/3 innings. He gives up more home runs at home than on the road, but is better at limiting hits overall in Cincinnati.

Finally, the Dodgers and Yankees play game two of their series in New York as Gavin Stone battles Nestor Cortes. Stone allowed half the home runs in twice the innings compared to his rookie season of 2023, allowing just four dingers in 62 innings. Cortes is probably pitching better than his 3.46 ERA, but allowed a .298 BA with runners in scoring position.

Enjoy!

May 22, 2024

Games of the Day

The Royals find themselves in fourth place in the tight race for the best record in the American League. Two games separate the top four teams. Kansas City faces a challenge today as they host the Tigers, with Tarik Skubal facing Cole Ragans. Skubal enters the game with a 1.80 ERA, second in the AL. He combines the third lowest walk rate in the AL with the fourth highest K rate. Ragans is right behind him in K per 9 IP, 10.80 to 10.29. He also allowed just one home run for the fifth best HR rate in the AL.

The Mariners go for a sweep of the Yankees with Bryce Miller taking on Nestor Cortes. Miller allowed just 36 hits in 52 2/3 innings, but eight of those left the ballpark. Cortes may be the odd-man out when Gerrit Cole returns to the New York rotation, even though he pitches well. Based on three-true outcomes, however, it might be Stroman. Of course, the Yankees could always go with a six-man rotation to try to prevent injuries.

Enjoy!

May 5, 2024

Games of the Day

The Tigers send Tarik Skubal against the Yankees and Nestor Cortes. Skubal’s ERA of 1.72 comes from dropping his ERA about a run every year since his rookie season of 2020. Over time, he lowered both his walk and home run rates. This season, his FIPs are about the same as last year, but in 2023 his ERA was higher, this year it’s lower as things balance out. Cortes reduced his walk rate in 2024 to 1.5 per 9 IP, about a walk per nine lower than his career average.

The Twins go for their thirteenth win a row as they host the Red Sox. Cooper Criswell faces Joe Ryan. Criswell brings a 1.63 ERA into his fifth appearance of the season. With low strikeout and K rates, batters put the ball in play against him, but so far those balls in play led to a low .250 BABIP. Batters failed to get a high launch angle against Ryan this season, which led to a lower rate of home runs allowed. He deemphasized his four seam fastball this year to throw more changeups.

Finally, Freddy Peralta leads the Brewer against the Cubs and Javier Assad. Peralta is working on his best combination of three-true outcomes of his career. That reflected in his xFIP of 2.95, which would be the lowest season mark for his career. Assad owns a 1.97 ERA after six starts. He held batters to a .205/.264/.277 slash line, which goes down to .105/.130/.105 with men in scoring position.

Enjoy!

April 2, 2024

Games of the Day

The Guardians send Shane Bieber against the Mariners and Luis Castillo. Bieber got off to a great start this season, mowing down eleven Athletics via the strikeout in six innings of work. That may not bode well for the Seattle batters who are averaging over10 K per game. Castillo pitched poorly against Cleveland when he worked for the Reds, but with Seattle he allowed the Guardians just one run in 18 innings.

The Cardinals and Padres square off in San Diego with Miles Mikolas facing Yu Darvish. Mikolas is a low K, low BB pitcher. That worked for him as he kept his BABIP low for most of his career. That statistic rose to .308 last season, and after one game in 2024 it stands at .455. Darvish, now seasonal age 37, managed to maintain a high K rate over time. Even well past his prime, he continues to post strikeout rates above 9.0 per nine innings

The Yankees and Diamondbacks play game two of their series with Nestor Cortes taking on Zac Gallen. Cortes’s first outing was a mixed bag. He didn’t allow many batters to reach base, but he did give up hits when those runners were on. Gallen pitched great on all levels in his first start, keeping all the averages against him very low.

Enjoy!

March 28, 2024

Games of the Day

The Angels and Orioles kick off the official start of the 2024 season with Patrick Sandoval taking on Corbin Burnes. Sandoval took a step back in 2023 as his strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate rose, increasing his ERA by over a run compared to 2022. His spring training numbers were very much in line with his 2023 rates. Burnes also showed a similar change in walks and strikeouts, but still managed a 3+ WAR season.

At 4 PM EDT, the Cardinals visit the Dodgers with Miles Mikolas facing Tyler Glasnow. Mikolas rarely faced the Dodgers in his career during the regular season. This will be his fifth start and eighth appearance, and the Dodgers managed runs against him. Glasnow makes his second start of season. He walked four and struck out three in his five innings against the Padres.

At the same time, the Yankees meet the Astros in Houston with Nestor Cortes squaring off against Framber Valdez. Cortes suffered from a higher BABIP in 2023, .291 versus his career average of .270. Facing the Astros usually does not help one’s BABIP, since they are good at putting the ball in play for hits. Valdez induces a high number of ground balls, which might make it tough for the Yankees to get the ball in the air and over the fence against him.

Enjoy!

August 5, 2023

Games of the Day

The Bronx features two returns as Justin Verlander takes the hill for the Astros for the first time since the trade from the Mets, and Nestor Cortes returns from the illjured list. Verlander pitched well for the Mets, although his 3.15 ERA is high for him. His strikeout rate is down and his walk rate is up, but he’s still tough to hit. Cortes’s ERA was hurt by both a higher home run rate, and more balls in play finding holes. He might be a pitcher hurt by the shift rules.

Bryce Elder leads the Braves against the Cubs and Javier Assad. Elder is good at pitching around trouble, with his walk rate going up with runners in scoring position while his hit rate goes down. Assad makes his second start of the season after 18 relief appearances. He limits power, with a .389 slugging percentage allowed.

The Dodgers have not names a start for their game in San Diego, but the contest does feature two of the best hitters in the game, Freddie Freeman and Juan Soto. They have started against each other 76 times, Freeman posting a .302/.393/.475 slash line, Soto a .283/.451/.528 line. Soto out homered Freeman 15-9, but both have 47 RBI.

Enjoy!

April 30, 2023

Games of the Day

The Pirates go for a sweep of the Nationals with Johan Oviedo taking on Josiah Gray. Looking at Oviedo since the start of 2022 we see a good pitcher with no outstanding strength or weakness. His K rate is okay. His walks are a little on the high side, and his home runs allowed are a little on the low side. He does manage to limit hits, and that helps him to a 3.15 ERA in that period. Gray, with a 2.93 ERA is a bright spot for the Nationals this season. He’s getting hammered with the bases empty, .323/.354/.597. All nine of his extra-base hits came with the bases empty, however, so runners are not being moved far once they are on base.

See yesterday’s Games of the Day post for the Braves and Mets match-up of Spencer Strider and Tylor Megill.

The Rangers try to take three of four from the visiting Yankees as Nestor Cortes battles Martin Perez. Cortes continues to be stingy with his walks, allowing just five so far in 28 1/3 innings. Perez allowed a .349 slugging percentage since joining the Rangers. His career mark was .438 prior to moving to Texas.

The Mexico City game features Alex Cobb of the Giants and Yu Darvish of the Padres trying not to get hammered. With Cobb holding a 1.91 ERA after five starts, and given the ease of hitting shown on Saturday, this game could easily cost Cobb a shot at a Cy Young award. Darvish comes in with a 3.00 ERA. He is wild compared to last year when he walked 37 batters in 194 2/3 innings. He already walked 12 in 24 innings. He has get to allow a home run, however. He gave up 22 in 2022. That may change this afternoon.

Enjoy!

Update: Rain postpones the Braves and the Mets for a second day in a row.

April 25, 2023

Games of the Day

The Dodgers visit the red hot Pirates, winners of seven in a row. Noah Syndergaard takes on Johan Oviedo. Syndergaard is off to an 0-3 start. He walked just four batters in 22 innings, but 23 hits and four home runs give him a 4.91 ERA. Oviedo made three good starts in a row, allowing 14 hits, none of them home runs, in his last 19 2/3 innings.

Nestor Cortes of the Yankees battles Joe Ryan of the Twins in game two of the series in Minnesota. Since rejoining the Yankees in 2021, Cortes allowed a .203/.256/.342 slash line, with 26 of the 32 home runs against him coming with the bases empty. Ryan won his first four starts, walking four and striking out 29 in his first 25 innings.

Enjoy!

April 20, 2023

Games of the Day

Patrick Sandoval takes on Nestor Cortes as the Angels and Yankees play a getaway day 4 PM start. Sandoval owns a 1.23 ERA after three starts and 14 2/3 innings. He walks six and struck out ten, so being selective may pay off against the Angels starter. He’s never issued an intentional walk. Cortes’s 2.60 ERA comes with a more impressive two walks and fifteen strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings this season.

On the west coast, the Mets mee the Giants with Kodai Senga facing Sean Manaea. Senga is off to a good start in his MLB career. In three starts he owns a 3.38 ERA with twenty one K in sixteen innings. Manaea pitched better than his 4.76 ERA with four walks and 13 K in 11 1/3 innings. He’s allowed few base runners, but the extra-base hits against him tend to come with men on base.

Enjoy!

April 9, 2023

Games of the Day

The Yankees and Orioles battle in Baltimore with Nestor Cortes taking on Tyler Wells. Cortes owns a 2.60 ERA since the start of the 2021 season thanks in large part to a 0.99 WHIP. Wells pitched five hitless innings of relief in his first appearance of the season. With a low for the era strikeout rate, Wells limits hits, giving up just 130 in 165 2/3 career innings.

Toronto sends Yusei Kikuchi against the Angels and Reid Detmers. Kikuchi has yet to post a season ERA under 4.00 in his career, as he tends to give up lots of home runs. He allowed just one run in his first start of the season, and than was on a solo homer. Detmers in his career owns odd FIP numbers. His FIP is lower than his ERA, but his xFIP is about the same amount higher than his xFIP (which takes into account the types of balls in play). It seems the average of the two is a better predictor of Detmers’s era.

Finally, Seth Lugo of the Padres faces rookie Dylan Dodd of the Braves on Sunday Night Baseball. Lugo struck out seven with no walks in his first game of the season, allowing one run in seven innings. Dodd also did not walk a batter in his first five MLB innings, and like Lugo allowed just one run.

Enjoy!

April 3, 2023

Games of the Day

The Mets visit the Brewers on opening day in Milwaukee. Carlos Carrasco takes on Freddy Peralta. Last year, Carrasco pitched over 150 innings for the first time since 2018. He walked just 41 batters in those 152 innings. Peralta only appeared in 18 games in 2022 due to a shoulder injury. He allowed just 54 hits in his 78 innings, however.

The Phillies visit the Yankees as they take the long way home after their series in Texas. Taijuan Walker faces Nestor Cortes. Walker cut his home runs allowed from 26 in 2021 to 15 in 2022 in about the same number of innings. That helped pull his ERA down a run, from 4.47 to 3.49. Cortes allowed a .200/.253/.340 slash line over the previous two seasons. Twenty four of the thirty home runs he allowed came with the bases empty.

The Braves send Charlie Morton against the Cardinals and Jake Woodford. Morton is the opposite of Walker. His home runs went up from 16 in 2021 to 28 in 2022, and his ERA jumped one run. Woodford pitched mostly in relief in his career. Last season he allowed just one home run in 48 1/3 innings.

Finally, the Angels and Mariners meet with Reid Detmers and George Kirby battling on the mound. Detmers got hit harder on the road in 2022, allowing a .193/.272/.346 slash line at home, .274/.343/.413 on the road. Kriby posted a great rookie season in 2022, 8-5 with a 3.39 ERA in twenty five starts. He’s just entering his prime this year so we’ll see how much he improves.

Enjoy!

October 23, 2022

Pena Power

Nestor Cortes of the Yankees walks the first two Astros in the top of the third inning. He goes to 3-1 on Jeremy Pena, and Pena takes him deep to leftfield to tie the game at three. Cortes comes out of the game with an injury. Pena now has six hits in the series, four for extra bases.

Update: Wandy Peralta comes in to pitch, and gives up a double and a fly ball to the first to batters. Kyle Tucker then hits a hard line drive off Peralta’s glove hand, and he can’t recover to make the play. It goes as a hit. The Astros have runners on first and third with one out.

Update: Yuli Gurriel finds the shifted hole between first and second and singles home the go-ahead run. The Astros lead the Yankees 4-3.

October 23, 2022

Playoffs Today

Yu Darvis takes on Zack Wheeler as the Padres face the Phillies at 2:30 PM EDT, the Phillies one win from the NL Pennant. The two faced off in game one, Philadelphia taking that contest 2-0. Wheeler allowed one hit and one walk in seven innings. Darvish allowed three hits and one walk in seven innings, but two of the hits were solo home runs.

The Astros go for a sweep of the Yankees with Lance Mcullers, Jr. taking on Nestor Cortes. McCullers owns a 2.56 post-season ERA, his only weakness coming from ten home runs in 63 1/3 innings. Fifteen of the seventeen RBI against him came via the long ball. Cortes pitched a bit differently in the LDS, his first two games in the playoffs. He became a low K, high walk pitcher as he allowed the Yankees defense to do their job. He pitched around trouble, as three of his walks came with men on base, but opponents were just 3 for 15 with a sacrifice fly otherwise.

Enjoy!

October 18, 2022

Cortes Done

Nestor Cortes goes five innings for the Yankees, his typical outing. He only threw 61 pitches, but came into the game on short rest, and quite possibly the Yankees didn’t want him facing the Guardians order for the third time. Cortes gave up three hits, one walk, and one run.

With a 5-1 lead, Jonathan Loaisiga comes in and gives up hits to the first two batters he faced.

Update: Loaisiga gets the next three batters, and the Yankees continue to lead the Guardians 5-1 in the middle of the sixth inning.

October 18, 2022

Playoffs Today

The Guardians and Yankees try once again to play game five of their ALDS. The weather report looks like it will be a crisp fall afternoon. Cleveland at this writing did not decide on a starting pitcher. They could go with Aaron Civale and a bullpen game, or bring back Shane Bieber on short rest. A bullpen game win means Bieber can start game one of the ALCS against the Astros on regular rest. While the Cleveland pen is well rested and good, shuffling pitchers in and out can mean you bring in the one who does not have his good stuff that day. Even if Cleveland does start Bieber, they are probably going into their bullpen early.

The Yankees decided that Nestor Cortes on short rest would be better than Jameson Taillon on long rest. Cortes seldom goes deep in games anyway, and with the day off all relievers will be available to the Yankees anyway. Cortes can limit hits and walks, which forces the Guardians into their weakness to win, hitting home runs. It looks like this is going to be a messy game in terms of pitching.

At 8 PM EDT, the NLCS gets underway in San Diego with Zack Wheeler of the Phillies taking on Yu Darvish of the Padres. Wheeler faced the Padres once this season, and posted a short shutout. In seven innings he allowed four hits and no walks while striking out nine. Darvish made two starts against the Phillies, allowing three runs in thirteen innings. He allowed just one walk while striking out 14 and did not allow a home run.

Enjoy!

October 14, 2022

Playoffs Today

The Guardians plan to send Shane Bieber against the Yankees and Nestor Cortes at a dry Yankee Stadium. Both combine a high strikeout rate with a low walk rate to keep their ERAs under 3.00. Bieber needs less bullpen help as he averaged 6 1/2 innings per start, Cortes 5 1/2 innings per start. Cortes allowed a .189 BA during the season, so the Guardians may see their weak post-season offense continue this afternoon.

Charlie Morton visits Aaron Nola as the NLDS between the Braves and Phillies moves to Philadelphia for game three. Morton performed well overall in the post-season, 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA in seventeen appearances. In four starts for the Braves he pitched just 16 2/3 innings, but blew batters away with 22 strikeouts. Nola makes his post-season debut. Nola pitched well against the Braves in his career, but really dominates them in Philadelphia. He stands 11-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 16 starts. He struck out 112 and walked just 28 in 106 innings.

The Dodgers travel to San Diego as Tony Gonsolin faces the Padres and Blake Snell. Gonsolin missed most of the end of the season with a strained forearm, coming back to toss two innings on October third. Dave Roberts explained that since the bullpen is rested after an off day, it’s better to use Gonsolin now, as he probably won’t go deep. That would give innings eater Tyler Anderson a chance to save the pen in game four. Gonsolin did go 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA during the regular season.

Snell owns 49 post-season strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings, but he also allowed seven home runs. His ERA stands at 3.05 despite that, as six of those dingers were solo shots.

Enjoy!

October 13, 2022

Playoffs Today

This might be a day when MLB wants to flip the two ALDS games as it looks like The Bronx will be playable in the afternoon but rained upon in the evening. As it stands now, the Mariners and Astros lead off the ALDS game twos with a late afternoon game in Houston. Luis Castillo takes on Framber Valdez. Castillo pitched extremely well in his two other post-season starts. In 12 2/3 innings, all on the road, he allowed one run while walking one and striking out twelve. Valdez accumulated 43 2/3 post-season innings so far. His 4.53 ERA comes from allowing nine home runs in those innings in addition to 18 walks.

The Guardians plan to send Shane Bieber against the Yankees and Nestor Cortes. Both combine a high strikeout rate with a low walk rate to keep their ERAs under 3.00. Bieber needs less bullpen help as he averaged 6 1/2 innings per start, Cortes 5 1/2 innings per start. Cortes allowed a .189 BA during the season, so the Guardians may see their weak post-season offense continue tonight.

Enjoy!

October 1, 2022

Games of the Day

The Orioles at Yankees not only offers Aaron Judge making another attempt at breaking the single season home run record, but a good pitching matchup between Austin Voth and Nestor Cortes.

The Mets and Braves stand tied for the NL East lead as Max Scherzer takes on Kyle Wright. A New York win reduces the Mets magic number by three as it gives them the tie-breaker.

The Rays and Astros feature a great pitching match-up as Shane McClanahan battles Cristian Javier.

Enjoy!

September 8, 2022

Games of the Day

Minnesota tries to avoid a sweep as they send Sonny Gray against the Yankees and Nestor Cortes. Gray posted a 4.90 ERA for the Yankees in 2018. Since leaving he is 30-24 with a 3.40 ERA. Cortes returns from the illjured list. He stands 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA at home in 2022. Only five of the sixteen home runs he allowed came at Yankee Stadium.

The White Sox send Dylan Cease against the Athletics and JP Sears. Cease is creeping up on Justin Verlander in Tom Tango Cy Young points, Oakland is a good place to pitch a gem. Sears pitched strictly as a starter since joining Oakland, 2-1 in five starts with a 2.37 ERA. He allowed just three home runs in 49 1/3 innings.

Enjoy!

August 21, 2022

Games of the Day

The Blue Jays go for a four-game sweep of the Yankees as ace Alek Manoah faces Nestor Cortes. Manoah already faced the Yankees five times in his short career. His record stands at 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA. He walked eleven in 29 innings but allowed just two home runs. Cortes appeared mostly in relief against the Blue Jays, but in his three starts he owns a 2.51 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.

The Mariners battle the Athletics with Luis Castillo taking on JP Sears. Castillo owns a 2.18 ERA since the trade to Seattle, with an overall ERA of 2.73 this season. He struck out 114 and allowed just 77 hits overall in 105 2/3 innings. The rookie Sears stands 4-0 in his career with the Yankees and the Athletics, allowing just one home run in 32 1/3 innings.

Enjoy!

August 16, 2022

Games of the Day

Jeffrey Springs to the mound for the Rays as they take on the Yankees and Nestor Cortes. Springs owns a 2.56 ERA. As a starter, his ERA stands at 2.92, and he has not allowed a run as a reliever. He’s walked 18 and struck out 91. Cortes is undefeated at home with a 4-0 record in nine starts with a 2.06 ERA.

The Orioles send Dean Kremer against the Blue Jays and Alek Manoah. Kremer owns a reverse platoon difference this season. The righty allows a .250 BA to left-handed batters, .305 versus right-handed batters. In 25 1/3 more innings this season, Manoah allowed the same number of home runs as last season, 12, and walked nine fewer batters.

Finally, two Cy Young candidates face off in Chicago as Justin Verlander leads the Astros against Dylan Cease and the White Sox. Both bring in ERAs under 2.00. Despite age and injuries, Verlander remains quite indefatigable. He averages 6.5 innings per start, due in part to opponents owning a meager .232 OPB against him. Cease desisted in allowing home runs, going from 1.1 per 9 IP in 2021 to 0.7 per 9 IP this season.

Enjoy!

August 10, 2022

Nestor No-No

Nestor Cortes just completed five no-hit innings against the Mariners. He walked one and struck out eight so far. The Yankees, however, managed just two hits to go with four walks against Robbie Ray, and they have not score either. That puts the Yankees scoreless inning streak at 18.

Update: Sam Haggerty goes deep with one out in the sixth inning and the Mariners break up the no-hitter and take a 1-0 lead.