New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
A trip to the ALCS is on the line as the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees square off in the Bronx on Monday night in Game 5 of the ALDS.
With each team winning a game inside the other’s home stadium, the evenly-matched ALDS best-of-five series between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees has had plenty of drama. What will happen at Yankee Stadium on Monday night (first pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (Eastern) and will be televised by TBS)?
3 bold predictions for Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees in ALDS Game 5?
3. Nestor Cortes will make an impact
Sure, Jameson Taillon will get the start for the Yankees, but Cortes will be available for limited duty in what will likely be an all-hands-on-deck mentality for manager Aaron Boone to avoid elimination.
After throwing 5.0 innings against the Guardians on Friday, Cortes won’t have a lot to give the Yankees in Game 5, but he just could have enough to be a difference-maker.
While the Guardians may have gotten to Cortes in his Friday start (six hits, including a home run, and drawing three walks), seeing the change of pace he could bring into the game in a pivotal moment may flip that script. While Cortes wasn’t used at all in relief this season, Boone will find the right time to insert the left-hander, whipping the Yankee Stadium crowd into even more of a frenzy.
Nestor will indeed be nasty against Cleveland, and it will make a difference in the game’s outcome.