The Yankees and Dodgers are going to be going through one another within the World Collection for the primary time since 1981. Since neither LCS went seven video games, there will likely be just a few off-days earlier than the World Collection is scheduled to start on Friday. Between at times, each golf equipment will likely be assessing some injured gamers to see if they may act as reinforcements for the ultimate stretch of the postseason.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone informed reporters at this time that there’s “an honest probability” left-hander Nestor Cortes will likely be on the World Collection roster. Brendan Kuty of The Athletic was amongst these to relay that data on X. As for the Dodgers, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was on SNLA final evening and mentioned there’s an opportunity each righty Brusdar Graterol and lefty Alex Vesia make the roster for the sequence, per Blake Harris on X.
Cortes landed on the injured listing September 25 resulting from a flexor pressure in his throwing elbow. He was shut down for a few week earlier than beginning to ramp up once more, however hasn’t been on the Yankee roster for any of their postseason sequence thus far.
Presumably, Cortes can be restricted to a aid position within the World Collection. He was largely working as a starter this yr however has been out of motion for a few month and has been throwing 10-15 pitch bullpen periods recently.
The Yanks have had Tim Hill and Tim Mayza as their left-hander aid choices of late. Each have been posting good outcomes however in a low-strikeout, grounder-heavy trend. Hill tossed 44 innings for the Yankees this yr with a 2.05 earned run common, solely putting out 10.4% of batters confronted however with a large 69.9% floor ball price. His numbers in seven postseason appearances have been pretty related: 1.59 ERA, 9.1% strikeout price and 63.2% grounder price.
Mayza tossed 18 innings for the Yankees this yr with a flat ERA of 4.00. He struck out simply 16.2% of batters confronted however bought grounders at a 55.4% clip. He has solely been trusted to toss 1 1/3 innings within the playoffs so far.
Cortes had a strikeout price above 25% in every season from 2021 to 2023. That quantity dropped to 22.8% in 2024 however was nonetheless a stable mark. Pitchers can usually rack up just a few extra Ks when transferring from the rotation to the bullpen, throwing just a little bit more durable in shorter stints versus pacing themselves for longer outings. Whether or not Cortes can do this or not may rely upon his well being, but when he’s in first rate type, he needs to be anticipated to supply extra punchouts than Hill or Mayza.
Vesia has made 232 regular-season appearances for the Dodgers in his profession with a 2.89 ERA. His 11.5% stroll price is on the excessive aspect however he’s been in a position to offset that with a 32.3% strikeout price. He’s been trusted sufficient to earn eight saves and 48 holds in that point.
He was on the Dodgers’ roster for the NLDS towards the Padres however departed the ultimate contest with an indirect/intercostal damage. He was left off the membership’s NLCS roster however might doubtlessly be again within the combine for the World Collection. Anthony Banda is at present the one lefty possibility within the Dodger bullpen, so supervisor Dave Roberts would undoubtedly like to have Vesia again within the combine.
Graterol is extra of a wild card as his 2024 has largely been a misplaced season. He solely made seven common season appearances this yr resulting from varied accidents. He began the yr on the IL resulting from each hip tightness and proper shoulder irritation, with the latter subject preserving him on the shelf till August. He made his season debut August 6 however left that outing with a proper hamstring pressure. He got here off the IL in September and made six appearances that month however landed again on the IL within the closing days of the season resulting from some extra shoulder irritation.
The on-and-off shoulder issues are regarding however the membership may take an opportunity on him anyway. He’s been a key piece of their bullpen for years and was in good type as lately as 2023. He posted a 1.20 ERA over 68 appearances final yr. His 18.7% strikeout price was subpar however that’s at all times been his type. He restricted walks to a 4.7% clip and stored batted balls on the bottom 64.4% of the time.
