Brewers' Opening Day rotation brings awkward reunion to Yankees' second game

While MLB may not have gotten what it wished for when it sent Arson Judge's Giants to play Aaron's Yankees on Opening Day 2023, they've received a lesser version of an uncomfortable homecoming to open the 2025 season.

After being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Devin Williams, Nestor Cortes Jr. will begin his final season before entering free agency on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx — wearing the yellow-accented uniform of the other team.

His final appearance in a Yankees uniform was actually not the game you're all thinking of; he appeared in Game 3 (wearing the home pinstripes), and retired Shohei Ohtani (whiff) and Max Muncy on a double play to cap 1 2/3 shutout frames with a flourish. Of course, the game he's still talking about these days ... isn't that one. The crafty left-hander recently went on the record once again to say the Yankees "were the better team" in the World Series, should've won, and understands why Aaron Boone went to him cold rather than a warmed-up Tim Hill.

We understand why Boone chose Nestor, too. He wanted the narrative. He wanted to be a master storyteller. It didn't work. Now it's over. It should be over. It's somehow not over. Cortes Jr. is now coming "home" to make certain it'll never end.

The ex-Yankee wrapped up his spring last week with five shutout frames, but noticeably experienced a dip in velocity. New York dealt from their starting pitching surplus to beef up their bullpen back in December, but internally, they were likely also worried about the shoulder issue that kept Cortes out of the postseason prior to the World Series. That makes this noteworthy.

Former Yankee Nestor Cortes Jr. to start Game 2 at Yankee Stadium in Milwaukee Brewers' rotation

Given the way they traversed the month of March, the Yankees probably (gulp) wish they still had Cortes for rotation depth purposes. After losing Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, and watching Clarke Schmidt slowed by back and shoulder issues, New York will open the season with Carlos Rodón opposing Freddy Peralta, and will carry Will Warren, Marcus Stroman, and Carlos Carrasco in their Opening Day rotation.

Come to think of it, though, the bullpen has been surprisingly depleted, too, making Williams highly essential. You know what? It's probably just easier to say everything is pretty bad, and move on.

Cortes Jr. will get the ball at 1:05 PM EST on Saturday, and will undoubtedly be midway through a strange gyration by 1:12 PM EST.