Brewers left-hander Nestor Cortes is scheduled for a 90-pitch start at Class AAA Nashville on July 24
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Nestor Cortes is scheduled for a 90-pitch start at Class AAA Nashville on July 24, with an eye on returning by the end of July, the Brewers said July 22.
Cortes, acquired from the New York Yankees on Dec. 13 along with infielder Caleb Durbin in exchange for closer Devin Williams, was expected to be a rotation stalwart. Instead, the 30-year-old made two starts, injured his elbow and has been sidelined since.
He has made two rehab starts for Nashville, pitching 8⅓ innings, giving up three hits and one run, and striking out seven. He also pitched four scoreless innings for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on July 10.
Cortes' return would appear to create a rotation logjam in the Brewers' rotation with Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester and Jose Quintana.
Cortes is 34-22 with a 3.88 earned-run average, a WHIP of 1.17 and a rate of 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings over his eight seasons in the major leagues (137 appearances, 88 starts).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers pitcher Nestor Cortes nearing return to Milwaukee
Category: Baseball
