Checking in on Nestor Cortes two weeks after the deadline

When the Milwaukee Brewers shipped veteran lefty Nestor Cortes to the San Diego Padres on July 31, it was the kind of deadline deal that made sense for both sides. The Brewers, already flush with pitching depth, took the opportunity to add an intriguing outfield depth piece with big-league experience in Brandon Lockridge. The Padres, meanwhile, were gambling that Cortes, fresh off a return from a left elbow flexor strain, could steady their rotation for the playoff push.

Two weeks later, the early returns in San Diego have been, let’s say, a mixed bag. In his first three starts as a Padre, Cortes owns an 0–1 record with a 4.20 ERA, striking out 14 batters across 15 innings. That’s serviceable on paper, but the outings have been anything but smooth sailing.

Brewers look smart as Nestor Cortes struggles to find footing with Padres

Take his most recent start on August 18 against the Giants. The lefty was rocked for four runs in the opening inning before finally finding some rhythm. Credit where it’s due, he settled down and made it through five innings for the first time in a Padres uniform. Still, the damage was done, and San Diego limped to a 4–3 loss. Ironically, it was the second time that Cortes has allowed three first inning home runs this season, despite having just five starts to his name in 2025.

That outing perfectly sums up Cortes’s short Padres tenure: uneven. His debut was rocky, his follow-up was respectable, and his third time out finally offered a glimpse of the steady hand the Padres were hoping to add, but not until Cortes put his rough first inning behind him. Until he can consistently give length, it’s hard for San Diego fans to feel fully confident.

From Milwaukee’s perspective, the decision looks even more justifiable. The Brewers only got two starts out of Cortes before he found himself on the injured list; one a quality start against the Reds, the other a brutal bludgeoning at the hands of the Yankees. With their surplus of arms, Milwaukee could afford to cut bait, add Lockridge, who has been important with the injury to Jackson Chourio, and let San Diego shoulder the risk of Cortes rediscovering his form.

For the Padres, the calculus is simple: they don’t need Cortes to be an ace. They need him to be a stabilizer, someone who can give them five competitive innings every fifth day while the offense and bullpen do their part. The flashes have been there, but the clock is ticking. As San Diego battles for positioning in a tight NL West race, every start matters, and Cortes’s leash will only get shorter.

The Brewers should feel content with their haul. And the Padres are left hoping their gamble pays off.