Cortes upset Yankees moved him to bullpen: 'I've been the workhorse'

New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes wasn't happy he had to pitch out of the bullpen during Saturday's 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs.

"Obviously, I was upset," Cortes said, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

"I feel like, amongst all the starters, I've been the workhorse here. Once (Gerrit) Cole went down, they picked me to be the Opening Day starter; not necessarily the No. 1, but the Opening Day starter. I had to switch my routine there, and now they do this."

Cortes followed Clarke Schmidt during Saturday's game, pitching 4 1/3 hitless innings after Schmidt shut out the Cubs across 4 2/3 frames in his first start since May 26. His return meant the Yankees rostered more than the traditional five starters.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone previously said he was unsure how he'd use six starters in a five-man rotation when Schmidt returned. Cortes, who was roughed up in his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals, appeared to be the odd man out.

But the 29-year-old admitted that, even though it upset him, he'd continue to pitch in relief if asked.

"I'm never going to back down from a challenge, I'm never going to leave my teammates out to dry," Cortes said.

"You're always going to get my best effort, no matter if I'm happy or not. That's what I did today. I just came out there and proved that I can be put in any situation, and from here on out, if that's what's my role, then I'll accept it."

Boone said Sunday that Cortes' comments didn't bother him, and the southpaw would move back into the rotation, according to Hoch.

Cortes owns a 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 163 1/3 innings this season.