Néstor Cortés steps up for the New York Yankees after Gerrit Cole loss

Today it was confirmed that left-handed pitcher Néstor Cortés will be in charge for the New York Yankees on the opening day of the new MLB season, after it emerged that Gerrit Cole faces time on the sidelines.

Cole doesn’t requite Tommy John surgery

Cole will be out of action for the next 10 to 12 weeks after suffering an elbow injury at the start of the week. He flew out to Florida for a series of tests, then sought expert advice in California, where he was advised against a trip to the operating table. Dr. Neal ElAttrache detected no sign of a tear to the ligament and said the best form of treatment would be a few weeks’ rest. It means that the Yankees will be without the the reigning Cy Young winner for a couple of months or perhaps longer.

With Cole out, responsibility falls on lefty Nestor Cortés who manager Aaron Boone has elected as the starter for today’s opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 29-year-old, who was born in Cuba but raised in Florida, had an outstanding performance this season with an ERA of 4.97, with a WHIP of 1.25 and 67 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings of work, in which he participated in 12 starts.

“Pretty amazing. It’s a little surreal for me,” Cortés said during practice on Friday.

Cole has remained one of the references from the mound in the MLB, maintaining a 2.44 ERA in 158 1/3 innings of work, including 28 starts; He also finished eighth in the American League Cy Young voting last season.

His absence is a setback for Boone, although not a huge one as he has several pitchers (Cortés, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt) who he can call on until Cole returns. It is not known whether the franchise will seek to find a temporary replacement in free agency or not. Mike Clevinger, Astros target Blake Snell and former Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen are all potential options, we’ll see...