The MLB regular season is coming down to its final wire, and the San Diego Padres are still playing for a chance at the NL West title.
Heading into Thursday, the Padres are just two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the division lead. Anything can happen in the final 10 games until October.
As the Padres look to close the gap in the division, they were given some fortunate news on one of their most recent trade acquisitions.
LHP Nestor Cortes is close to a return from 15-day IL
San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller brought in a large haul of players at the MLB trade deadline. Among the names that the team added was starting pitcher Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cortes, 30, began his Padres career showing some success. In the five starts he made in August, he finished with a 1-2 record and a 3.75 ERA, but September has been shorter after discovering left bicep tendinitis. He was placed on the 15-day injured list after just one start in the month.
Manager Mike Shildt gave an update to Cortes, saying that he could be returning to the mound before the end of the regular season.
"We haven’t sat down with Nestor yet. But he feels good enough to get on the mound and throw some pitches. How he responds will determine whether he goes with us on the trip or whether he goes to Arizona and starts to face some hitters," Shildt said, according to Gabe Smallson of SI.com.
MORE: Padres' Xander Bogaerts eyes weekend return from injured list
Cortes has been dealing with injuries all throughout 2025; this has led to just eight starts this season for the Brewers and the Padres. It will be interesting to see if he gets back on the mound this season, and San Diego might not need him once the postseason begins.
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