The Yankees and Dodgers are going to be dealing with one another within the World Collection for the primary time since 1981. Since neither LCS went seven video games, there can be a couple of off-days earlier than the World Collection is scheduled to start on Friday. Between from time to time, each golf equipment can be assessing some injured gamers to see if they might act as reinforcements for the ultimate stretch of the postseason.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone instructed reporters immediately that there’s “an honest probability” left-hander Nestor Cortes can be on the World Collection roster. Brendan Kuty of The Athletic was amongst these to relay that information on X. As for the Dodgers, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was on SNLA final evening and stated there’s an opportunity each righty Brusdar Graterol and lefty Alex Vesia make the roster for the collection, per Blake Harris on X.
Cortes landed on the injured record September 25 on account of 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 collection to date.
Presumably, Cortes can be restricted to a reduction position within the World Collection. He was largely working as a starter this 12 months 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 reduction 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 12 months with a 2.05 earned run common, solely putting out 10.4% of batters confronted however with a large 69.9% floor ball charge. His numbers in seven postseason appearances have been pretty comparable: 1.59 ERA, 9.1% strikeout charge and 63.2% grounder charge.
Mayza tossed 18 innings for the Yankees this 12 months with a flat ERA of 4.00. He struck out simply 16.2% of batters confronted however acquired grounders at a 55.4% clip. He has solely been trusted to toss 1 1/3 innings within the playoffs to this point.
Cortes had a strikeout charge 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 a couple of extra Ks when transferring from the rotation to the bullpen, throwing a bit bit more durable in shorter stints versus pacing themselves for longer outings. Whether or not Cortes can try this or not would possibly rely upon his well being, but when he’s in first rate kind, he ought 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 charge is on the excessive facet however he’s been in a position to offset that with a 32.3% strikeout charge. He’s been trusted sufficient to earn eight saves and 48 holds in that point.
He was on the Dodgers’ roster for the NLDS in opposition to the Padres however departed the ultimate contest with an indirect/intercostal harm. He was left off the membership’s NLCS roster however might probably 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 12 months on account of varied accidents. He began the 12 months on the IL on account of each hip tightness and proper shoulder irritation, with the latter situation 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 ultimate days of the season on account of some extra shoulder irritation.
The on-and-off shoulder issues are regarding however the membership would possibly take an opportunity on him anyway. He’s been a key piece of their bullpen for years and was in good kind as not too long ago as 2023. He posted a 1.20 ERA over 68 appearances final 12 months. His 18.7% strikeout charge was subpar however that’s all the time been his type. He restricted walks to a 4.7% clip and stored batted balls on the bottom 64.4% of the time.
