Nestor Cortes Jr. injury diagnosis revealed with Yankees' latest roster shuffle

New York Yankees fans' fears were semi-confirmed on Wednesday afternoon when the official roster move hammer dropped regarding Nestor Cortes Jr.

While no one knows yet just how much time he'll miss, the results of his Tuesday MRI indicated a flexor strain in his left elbow, resulting in the activation of Cody Poteet and the insertion of Marcus Stroman into the middle game in the current Orioles series. If the Yankees are going to clinch the AL East on Wednesday, they're going to do so in highly unorthodox fashion.

A flexor strain certainly qualifies as a firm diagnosis, but comments from Aaron Boone as the game approaches (and in the coming weeks) will dictate a treatment pattern for the lefty (though, given the Yankees' history of injury transparency ... who knows, actually?).

It seems safe to say that Cortes will miss the ALDS, could be out for much longer, and both Poteet and Stroman will be given the opportunity to work into crucial bulk roles for the postseason in the coming days. Who knows? Maybe Clayton Beeter will get a shot as well.

Nestor Cortes Jr. injury timeline: Yankees starter to miss ALDS (at least)

Cortes deserves all the credit in the world for shaking off a difficult and rumor-filled summer by posting a career-high 174.1 innings, always taking the ball and doing so spectacularly down the stretch.

He didn't want to experiment out of the bullpen, of course, but he still did so and delivered in Chicago, saving the Yankees' second win over the Cubs with 4 1/3 brilliant frames. He seemed poised to fill a similar role in October, backfilling a shorter start from Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, or anyone else who struggled with a steady hand. Now, those reps will likely go to Stroman or Poteet, and this week might be all about which of the two distinguishes themselves in a higher-leverage opportunity.

Cortes, a rumored trade piece this offseason, may have been pulled off the market by this diagnosis as well, though only time will tell how severe the injury is. For now, the Yankees have lost a great depth piece for an October where their number of reliable horses was already in question.