Yankees' Aaron Boone explains ill-fated decision to use Nestor Cortes against Dodger lefties

In an intense World Series opener at Dodger Stadium, the New York Yankees faced a dramatic defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers after a hopeful comeback from pitcher Nestor Cortes. With the game tied at 3-3 in the 10th inning, Cortes had just returned from a 37-day hiatus due to injury. He successfully got Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to fly out with his first pitch. However, Freddie Freeman capitalized on the next pitch to hit a walk-off grand slam, cementing a 6-3 victory for the Dodgers.

Yankees manager decided on Cortes over fellow lefty Tim Hill due to perceived matchup benefits. Cortes, who hadn't pitched since suffering a flexor tendon strain on September 18, had a solid 2024 season record as a starter with a 3.77 ERA. He only had one relief appearance this season, though he was no stranger to bullpen roles.

The Yankees' decision came after right-hander Jake Cousins allowed runners on first and second with one out. Despite both Cortes and Hill warming up, the manager trusted Cortes due to Ohtani's previous struggles against him, holding a .167 average. Against Hill, Ohtani had a slightly better .250 average.

Though Cortes triumphed over Ohtani thanks to a remarkable catch by Alex Verdugo, he couldn't replicate the success against Freeman, who launched a decisive home run. The choice to utilize Cortes, instead of Hill's higher ground ball rate, was partly due to the challenge of doubling up the fast-running Ohtani with only one out, complicating a potential double play.

Cortes was mentally prepared for the showdown, having anticipated his opportunity to face Ohtani. Despite initial injury concerns, he regained strength through structured training, confirmed readiness, and was brought into pivotal playoff action.

Although the strategic gamble did not work in the Yankees' favor, the decision showcased the high-stakes nature of postseason baseball, where managers must calculate risks and rewards amidst intense pressure.