LOS ANGELES — Nestor Cortes overcame the doubters.
Those doubters included Nestor Cortes.
When the Yankees lefty was diagnosed with a flexor strain on Sept. 25, an injury that led to a 10-day shutdown and an injury that in some instances can lead to Tommy John surgery, he assumed his year was finished.
“Given that it was so late in the season, obviously with the left flexor strain — those are tough to come back [from],” Cortes said Friday, “but we never gave up on it.”
Cortes spoke from the dais at Dodger Stadium, where he is a part of the Yankees’ World Series roster in a return that means Cortes is risking his health to be a part of a championship squad.
His teammates had done their part — continuing to win series that allowed more time for Cortes to go through a throwing progression, most recently throwing 28 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday — and Cortes hoped to do his.
For a series against the Dodgers and mighty bats such as Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, that job was set to be retiring superstar lefties following an abbreviated build-up.
“I feel like I’ve prepared — we’ve all prepared for this moment, and it’s going to be a moment that we’re all going to cherish,” said Cortes, who took the roster spot of an injured Jon Berti. “We’re just going to go out there and give it our best.”
Cortes’ best, he hoped, would be on par with his best during the season. He said he threw 88-91 mph during his sim game and threw a few sidearm, which helped give him belief.
Cortes joined Tim Hill and Tim Mayza as bullpen southpaws who could become the Ohtani stoppers.
“He’s one of the guys down there that I feel like can get big outs,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So we’ll see.”
They would see about plenty, such as whether Cortes could take down more than one inning and could be used in back-to-back games. Boone was not sure and said they have to check how Cortes feels every day.
Before Friday’s World Series opener, Cortes was feeling great. He made it back — and was willing to risk his health for a shot that does not come around often.
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“I’m 29 years old, and I feel like I still have a lot of more years to give,” Cortes said, “but you never know when you’re going to be in this situation, this spot with this opportunity.”
For a third time in the past four games, Giancarlo Stanton batted cleanup.
Boone called the move “the biggest” decision he had to make Thursday and settled upon a hot bat at the No. 4 spot rather than a more balanced, lefty-righty mix. Stanton batted behind righty Aaron Judge and in front of lefties Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Rizzo.
“I just felt like where G’s at there in the order is the right thing for at least right now,” Boone said of Stanton, who entered play with a 1.179 OPS and five home runs in nine postseason games.
Boone spoke to the team Wednesday, before the club traveled west, for a final pep talk.
He did not plan on speaking to the team as a unit Friday.