Aaron Judge, Nestor Cortes provide injury updates, varying levels of optimism – The Denver Post

LOS ANGELES — When Aaron Judge approached his locker following the Yankees’ Sunday night win over the Dodgers, he did so without a hitch or a limp.

The slugger missed Sunday’s game after banging his right big toe while making a sensational Saturday catch, but he spoke to reporters anyway. As Judge did so, he stood tall in slide sandals and socks. If there was any extra protection or padding under his right sock, it was not apparent.

Judge said that not playing on Sunday was “precautionary.” Still, he seemed resigned to the possibility of landing on the injured list.

“I really don’t care at this point,” said a player who almost always insists he’s fine, even when he’s not. “If I’m on it, I’m on it. I’m trying not to be, but I got no answer yet. I’m hoping today and tomorrow, having a little bit of rest, it’ll be good to go hopefully on Tuesday. We’ll take it day-to-day right now.”

Judge wasn’t entirely sure what tests await him in New York, but he mentioned the possibility of X-rays and MRIs on Monday, an off day for the Yankees.

When asked specifically if he thinks he has a broken toe, Judge said, “It’s tough to say. I’ve never broken a toe. So we’ll see what the tests say. I don’t want to throw anything out there just yet.”

Aaron Boone said that, as Sunday’s game unfolded, he decided not to use Judge, who made a push to play before the game.

“We had some discussions last night and today but got shut down pretty quick,” Judge said.

While Judge awaits a possible IL stint, the Yankees already said they expect Nestor Cortes to need one, though an official move hasn’t been made yet.

The lefty’s shoulder has had a hard time recovering between his last few starts, and he finally told the Yankees in Los Angeles.

“I’m not really concerned. It’s just a lot of soreness,” Cortes said. “I haven’t been able to bounce back like I wanted to between starts. Hopefully, everything comes back clean tomorrow on the MRI, and we can just get ahead of it and get better.

“Usually the day after, it’s pretty rough. Your normal soreness. But in this case, the second and third day kind of felt the same. Didn’t really feel like I was recovering better and feeling less sore. I was feeling the same sore as it was day one after I pitched. And obviously with bullpens in between, I don’t want to go out there and throw a halfway bullpen and feel like I didn’t prepare well enough for my next start.”

Cortes, who hasn’t thrown a bullpen since his last start on May 30, also used the word “inflammation” to describe what he’s been dealing with, and he said he hasn’t felt this issue before. He added that “the plan” is to miss two or three starts.

Cortes has had trouble finishing strong in his starts this season, often struggling after the fifth inning or the 75-pitch mark, while pitching a third time through an order, or some combination of the three. But he doesn’t believe his shoulder aches are the reason he’s had trouble at the end of starts.

“I don’t think so,” Cortes said. “This is more of getting prepared in between starts, where I feel like I can’t do what I want to do in between to work on stuff or get better at stuff. So in-game, when I’m pitching, it doesn’t hurt. I don’t feel sore. It’s just the next few days where it’s harder and harder to recover before my next start.”

()