MIAMI — Based on results, you’d think it would be an easy call for the Yankees to keep running Nestor Cortes out there every fifth day, at least until Luis Severino returns.
The lefty with all those herky-jerky deliveries has a 1.93 ERA in 11 outings since his May 30 call-up from Triple-A, and it’s 1.38 in his three starts with two runs allowed over 13 innings. His last time out, Cortes held the Rays to one run over five strong in a no-decision start that contributed to a Yankees’ 10-inning win.
The mustache man has looked pretty good.
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Unless Cortes pinch-runs again like he did Friday night in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Marlins, his next adventure will be back in a middle relief role. That was set in motion when the Yankees’ beat the 4 p.m., trade deadline by a few minutes acquiring Los Angeles Angels lefty starter Andrew Heaney for a pair of Class AA righties, Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero.
Heaney has logged some impressive numbers this season making 18 starts for the Angels, especially his 113 strikeouts and 31 walks in 94 innings. Allowing only 92 hits is solid, too.
His stat that stands out most is the one that pitchers were most judged on for years and years, his 5.27 ERA.
Not good.
So what do you think the Yankees will do next week when they have to choose between keeping Cortes in their rotation or going to their newcomer?
“He’s going to go into our rotation,” general manager Brian Cashman said of Heaney.
This decision can’t be based on Heaney’s start at Yankee Stadium a month ago. On June 29, Heaney started for the Angels and served up homers to Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar allowing seven runs over three-plus very shaky innings in an 11-5 Yankees romp.
His first two July starts didn’t go well, either: 9 1/3 innings and 7 runs combined.
His last two impressions probably swayed the Yankees, as he beat the Twins in Minnesota with a two-run, seven-inning start on June 22 and then had a decent three-run, six-inning effort in a home start against the Rockies on July 28.
“The old adage, you can never have enough pitching, and we get a guy like Andrew Heaney, who’s an established starter and somebody who’s having a strong season this year,” Boone said. “His ERA is a little high, but if you look at the numbers, it’s less hits than innings pitched, a lot of innings and a really strong strikeout-to-walk ratio. So it’s a guy who can really pitch.”
Heaney also is experienced insurance in case Severino has another setback before making his expected return from Tommy John surgery in late August or early September, if Kluber doesn’t return from a shoulder issue that’s had him shelved since May and/or if someone else goes down.
The Yankees’ rotation depth isn’t what they hoped it would be this season because their two highest ranked pitching prospects have contributed nothing. Clarke Schmidt hurt his arm in spring training and just last week began a rehab assignment, while Deivi Garcia is having a bad season in Triple-A and didn’t fare well in two early-season starts with the Yankees.
“We’re very excited to add a pitcher of his caliber that certainly provides some depth as hopefully we continue to get Sevy and potentially Corey Kluber back at some point,” Boone said. “I think at this time of year you’re making sure you have the depth. Obviously with only one trade deadline now, you’ve got to make sure you’re covered.”
What this means is Heaney probably will make at least two or three starts before potentially being moved to a bullpen role when Severino and/or Kluber return.
“We have Luis Severino coming, we have Kluber coming,” Cashman said. Those are great positive opportunities, but there’s no guarantee over the next coming weeks or the next two months … so we’re just adding (Heaney) to that list of choices.
“Every inning is important for us the rest of the way. We felt the cost of the acquisition was tolerable and it was in our best interest to do so.”
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