Nestor Cortes expects to be on the New York Yankees’ World Series roster against the Los Angeles Dodgers after throwing two innings of batting practice and pronouncing himself recovered from an elbow injury that has sidelined him for more than a month.

Throughout the playoffs and for much of the regular season, the Yankees lacked a reliever whose primary goal was to get strikeouts. Cortes fits that bill, and as a lefty, he could prove to be the Yankees’ best threat against Ohtani, the likely National League MVP after hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases as a designated hitter.

Nestor Cortes last pitched in an MLB game on Sept. 18, due to a flexor strain, but he anticipates being added to the Yankees' World Series roster.