AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 12, 2022

Nestor Cortes

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Does preparing for a playoff game feel any different than a regular season start?

NESTOR CORTES: No, not really. I like to keep the same routine I've done all year. I think there's no reason to change now. So what I've been doing has been working, so I plan to do the same thing.

Q. Just to follow up, is there a little bit extra juice, anticipation -- even Gerrit before his start said that maybe there's a little bit of nerves, butterflies, etc. He's pitched in playoff games before. From an emotional standpoint, does it feel a little bit different?

NESTOR CORTES: For sure. It's going to be my first playoff appearance. So there's always some excitement and butterflies at the same time. But like I said, I don't think it feels any different from going out there and pitching in front of the same crowd we have all year.

So I'm excited, and I'm ready for the challenge.

Q. Does the prospect of bad weather impact at all your preparation or the way you're going to go about this whole thing?

NESTOR CORTES: No. Today I'll go out there and do my regular stuff before my outing if I was going to pitch tomorrow. And if it rains tomorrow, I'll come in and throw and play some catch and get ready for Friday.

Q. So you'll be ready either way?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, for sure. For sure. Like I said, I'll train today like I'm going to pitch tomorrow at 7:30. And if things do change, then you know, we'll adjust with that.

Q. In Gerrit's performance last night, did you see anything that you could take away that would help you in your start? And also in terms of Cleveland's lineup, what problems do they pose?

NESTOR CORTES: I felt like they were pretty aggressive first time through. I mean, me him are completely different pitchers; I don't throw a hundred miles per hour. I think I'm going to approach them the same way the game plan says. We are going to do a game plan tomorrow before the game and -- whether we are pitching to my strength or their weaknesses. But you know, I think the way that he approached them last night was excellent. His pitch count ran up a little bit the first three innings, and then he was able to get quick outs.

So I feel like, you know, the way I pitch, I'm going to be able to induce a lot of contact, and hopefully they are weak contacts.

Q. When you look back on this year for you personally, what have some of your favorite moments been and what really stands out to you?

NESTOR CORTES: I want to say the first half where we were going on an incredible run as a team, obviously with the success that I had the first half and making the All-Star Game was incredible for me.

But I think the thing I'm most proud of is that I was able to make 28 starts, throw 158 innings. Coming into this year -- I had 93 last year, and I didn't know how long and how durable I was going to be. So with the help of the training staff, the strength coaches, and even the starting rotation, they have done it year-in, year-out. So they have helped me along the way to get to 150 innings. I know I had that two weeks of injury, but it was something that was, I guess, in a way above me.

I was just able to keep, I guess, that tunnel vision towards the end and finish strong.

Q. What do you think has allowed you to keep that kind of grounded mentality?

NESTOR CORTES: I go out there every time, every fifth day like it's the last time I'm going to pitch. I think that's how I've handled my whole career, even in the minor leagues. So for me to be able to go out there and enjoy the moment and just be part of it, I think that's what keeps me level-headed and, you know, with that sense of urgency to do well every time.

Q. I was going to ask about that. You've talked about pitching with a chip on your shoulder and not getting designated all the way up. How do you hold onto that after you've had so much success? What do you think about and how does that drive you?

NESTOR CORTES: You know, it's hard to say because obviously you start becoming more comfortable and you start thinking ahead. I think, you know, as far as what I try and do is like I said, stay in the moment.

I want to cherish every day, even if I'm not pitching, and for me to be able to do that, I think that's what's kept me, you know, neutral every single time.

So I would like to say that I go day-by-day and hopefully, you know, today is the best day I have, and tomorrow we'll see what happens.

Q. I know your focus is on tomorrow, but if there is a rainout, what do you think your availability might be like for Game 5?

NESTOR CORTES: I'm ready to go. I'm going to empty the tank. So if I pitch on Friday, and I have to come back on short rest, whether it's two or three days, I'm going to try and prepare in between the best I can to feel as best as I can. But you know, if the circumstances don't allow me to, then just going to try and, you know, like I've played this whole season, with my heart on my sleeve and competitive.

Q. You talk about emptying the tank and potentially being available if they need new Game 5. Even last year when you were floating back and forth between the bullpen and starting rotation, you would go up and say every day, I'm available, I'm available. You spoke about durability. What do you think has been the biggest difference in being that durable? What did you do throughout the season that was the difference?

NESTOR CORTES: It started in the off-season. I think I trained my body to try and withhold these innings that I've pitched. The off-season was huge for me. I think I prepared real well. And like I said, time and time again, the starting pitching, the staff, has helped me understand how to recuperate from start to start.

The training staff and the strength coaches have done a good job of staying on top of me and make sure I hit every point in between those starts. So I think I've got to give a lot of credit to all those guys that have helped me, because I've never done this before, and I'm career-high in innings. So I've got to give a lot of credit to them.

Q. What are the challenges for you with a high-contact team like Cleveland?

NESTOR CORTES: I faced them twice this year. I felt like I did pretty good both times. Just try and induce as much low-contact quality as I can, put the ball in play. They are a fast team. They are waiting to steal at any point. You know, I think as long as we keep them inside the ballpark and we control the running game, we'll be fine.

I think our defense is pretty sharp behind us as you guys saw yesterday, so it's going to be good.

Q. And you always seem to enjoy yourself out on the mound. Was there ever a point earlier in your career where it wasn't like that for you and what changed it?

NESTOR CORTES: Definitely. And we go back to 2018, 2019 and 2020, those three years. 2018 and 2020 were short-lived because it was four innings and seven innings, but felt like every time I was out there giving up those runs, it was a lonely feeling on the mound. It wasn't very exciting and I wasn't happy, but I was able to turn it around and hopefully I can continue to do so moving forward.

Q. What changed it?

NESTOR CORTES: What changed it? I think my preparation. Creating a routine. I think those three years, I didn't really have a routine. I didn't really know what it was to start in the big leagues. I didn't know what it was to come out of the bullpen in the big leagues. I didn't come out of the bullpen in the minor leagues, ever, coming up.

I think creating a routine, taking care of my body, talking to guys that have already done it for 200 innings every year. You know, those conversations were very valuable to me throughout the year.

Q. Given where you were drafted, being an unheralded prospect, did you think being a front-of-the-line playoffs starter was a possibility for you?

NESTOR CORTES: At all. At all. I remember coming up, they would say I would be a fifth starter at best, but my role would be a long guy in the bullpen. And that's how I broke into the big leagues.

I remember in 2018 I was fighting for a starting spot with the Orioles, and they ended up signing a couple guys at the end of spring training and I slotted back into the relief role in the bullpen. I was content with what I was doing in that role, and I was happy to be in that role. But as soon as I tasted what it was to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues, it makes me work twice as hard now because I wouldn't want to give it up.

Q. You mentioned the defense behind you. How much of a difference has that made this year, and how much of a comfort is it knowing the guys behind you can make that play?

NESTOR CORTES: It's incredible to know when the ball is hit, there's always a chance for it to be an out. Obviously you can't control anything once the ball is out of your hands. So to be able to have kind of that comfort, to know that your defense is one of the best in the big leagues, if not best, it feels great to be able to pitch and allow contact and know that plays will be made behind you.

Q. During player introductions, you had one of the loudest standing ovations from the crowd. What does it mean to be so embraced by this fan base and the city?

NESTOR CORTES: It felt super cool. My parents were in the stands and after the game, they said, man, we couldn't believe what we heard out there. So it was kind of surreal for me, and really, I appreciated the ovation. It was pretty cool.

But just to be out there and share that moment with everybody. I remember walking up to the line and everyone is like, you got the biggest ovation, blah, blah blah -- until Judge came up, obviously. But it was cool.

Q. You speak about your parents. Is it a tale about their hard work and your hard work throughout your life and coming into the season and being so successful?

NESTOR CORTES: Yeah, we came to the States when I was seven months old. They were young parents when they came to the States. They have worked their tail off since we got here. I mean, I've got to give all the credit to them. They groomed me to be, I want to say, like a pretty good young man that takes care of his life and is pretty responsible.

For them to do that and to give me that freedom to do whatever I wanted in this country, and to go about my business every day has meant the world to me. So I thank them a lot.

Q. How much do you appreciate the opportunity to give the Yankees a commanding 2-0 series lead?

NESTOR CORTES: That would be an honor to do so. I think everybody knows this is a three-out-of-five, and to get that second game win is going to be huge for us. We are going to have the series on a choke hold like everybody says, and it gives us a better opportunity to advance. For me to have that opportunity and to go out there and to give the best chance that I can give to the team for a W is going to be amazing.