MLB Weekend Review: What the heck happened to Nestor Cortes and the Brewers?

In his first start for his new team, Cortes was bombarded by bombs from the Bronx Bombers.
Nestor Cortes struggles mightily in his first start for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team, the New York Yankees.
Nestor Cortes struggles mightily in his first start for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team, the New York Yankees. | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Before diving into what happened on the field on Saturday, let's wind the clocks back three months and review the trade that sent Nestor Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers.

In that deal, the Brew Crew sent All-Star closer (and impending free agent) Devin Williams to the New York Yankees. In return, they received Cortes and utility prospect Caleb Durbin, who was reassigned to Triple-A after spring training.

Long-term, Durbin is the centerpiece of the deal. His defensive home remains a mysterys, but he's capable of playing second base, third base, and the corners of the outfield. He should be a valuable piece for the Brewers once he's ready for the big leagues, even if his ceiling maxes out as a utility man.

The first player to appear for their new team from that trade was Williams, who came into the ninth inning on Opening Day. Since the Brewers and Yankees just so happen to be opening the 2025 season against each other, Williams was tasked with shutting down his former squad.

Instead, the 30-year-old closer nearly blew the save, surrendering two hits, a walk and a run before barely escaping the ninth inning.

That was an ominous start to his Yankees career, but Williams, owner of a career 1.86 ERA, should be alright.

Nestor Cortes took the mound for the Brewers in the following game. To say that his performance was an "ominous start" to his Brewers career is the biggest understatement you could muster.

Nestor Cortes, Brewers get lit up for historic output by Yankees

The good news is Cortes set an MLB record with the first three pitches he threw in the game. The bad news: all of those pitches turned into home runs, the first time any MLB game has ever began in that fashion.

In total, Cortes threw two-plus innings. His final line? He allowed eight earned runs, six hits, and five walks. His immediate follow up, reliever Connor Thomas, also gave up eight earned runs in two innings, though at least he "only" allowed three bombs to the Bronx Bombers.

By the end of the game, the Brewers allowed 20 runs and nine home runs. The latter figure set a record for both franchises playing in the game.

Fun fact: backup first baseman Jake Bauers was the only Brewers pitcher to not allow a run in the entire game. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning, after the Yankees had run up their tally to 20.

This was not the start the team and Cortes had in mind to his Brewers career, to put it mildly. It's unfortunate it came against his former team, but Cortes has never had overpowering stuff; he's always been liable to get crushed when his pitches are flat and he doesn't effectively mess with opposing hitters' timing.

His next start will come against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3. For the mental health of Brewers fans everywhere, let's hope that game goes a little smoother than this one.

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