Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Takes loss despite quality start
Rotowire
Cortes (4-6) was saddled with the loss Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings against Atlanta. He struck out seven.
Cortes mostly held the Atlanta bats in check to put together his third consecutive quality start and the ninth time this season he's struck out six or more batters, but the Yankees failed to provide any run support and Cortes was left with his sixth loss. Outside of a solo home run by Jarred Kelenic in the third, Cortes' only real trouble came in the fifth, when he allowed two runs on three hits. However, he finished his day strong by retiring all six batters faced in the sixth and seventh. Cortes has tossed 100.2 innings across 17 starts, accumulating 93 strikeouts. He'll take a 3.40 ERA and 1.07 WHIP into his next start, scheduled to take place when the Yankees head to Toronto for a four-game weekend set against the division-rival Blue Jays.
Cortes (4-5) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing five hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The crafty lefty was at his baffling best, and the only runner Baltimore got past second base against Cortes came on an Austin Wells passed ball in the sixth inning. Cortes threw a season-high 105 pitches (64 strikes) in the outing, his first time in triple digits since April 20, while the quality start was his second straight and seventh of the campaign. He'll take a 3.36 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 86:18 K:BB through 93.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against Atlanta.
Yankees' Nestor Cortes: Goes seven strong in no-decision
Rotowire
Cortes allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings during Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Royals. He didn't factor in the decision.
Cortes ran into some trouble in the fourth inning with two runs allowed but otherwise kept Kansas City off the board, pitching deep into yet another start. This was his fifth outing this season of seven or more innings, which is tied for the second most in the American League. The two strikeouts tied for a season low, and the veteran lefty has now gone four straight starts without a win. He will take a 3.59 ERA into his next start, which lines up to come against the Orioles next week.
