Nestor Cortes plays catch again with a Yankees return possible

Nestor Cortes felt good enough after his first day of playing catch Sunday that he did it again Monday. As the left-hander tries to come back from a left elbow flexor strain, Cortes is hoping to become an option for the Yankees if their playoff run extends deeper into this month. “I know [Sunday] went well,” manager Aaron Boone said Monday before Game 2 of the ALDS against the Royals.“Everyone was encouraged by how it was.” After being diagnosed with the elbow issue during the final week of the regular season, Cortes was shut down for 10 days before beginning to throw again Sunday. If he continues to respond well to the ramp-up, Cortes would likely need to throw a few bullpen sessions and then face hitters before the Yankees would feel comfortable activating him.

He would be up against the clock to make it back in time for the ALCS, which begins next Monday, but would have a longer runway for the World Series (scheduled to begin on Oct.25) if the Yankees make it there. Either way, Cortes would almost certainly be coming back as a reliever, which would still be valuable to the Yankees. “I know [Sunday] was encouraging enough to know that at some point, it could be a possibility,” Boone said. ...