Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman speaks to the press during World...

Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman speaks to the press during World Series Media Day on October 24, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

LOS ANGELES – The Yankees, as expected, went with 13 pitchers for their 26-man World Series roster, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a surprise or two when the club released the roster early Friday afternoon.

With Marcus Stroman heading that list.

Nestor Cortes, who missed the first two rounds with a flexor strain in his left elbow, made the cut, which was entirely expected. The lefthander healed far quicker than initially thought and was actually a consideration to be added to the ALCS roster when Ian Hamilton suffered a calf injury (Mark Leiter Jr. was added instead).

Less expected was the inclusion of Stroman, who was left off the ALDS roster then was on the ALCS roster but did not pitch in the five-game series victory over Cleveland.

Of note for being left off the roster: utility man Jon Berti, who started two games in the Division Series at first base. He acquitted himself well in the field and at the plate, where he went 2-for-7 with a walk in those two starts. Berti started at first in Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland in place of Anthony Rizzo, who missed the first round with two broken fingers in his right hand, and went 0-for-4.

The decision to keep Berti off the roster leaves Oswaldo Cabrera, who started the other two games at first against the Royals in the ALDS, as the lone utilityman (Jazz Chisholm Jr. is listed on the roster as a utility player because he can play outfield but he’s expected to start every game at third base, as he did in the first two rounds).

Leiter, who recorded a handful of critical outs in the ALCS after replacing Hamilton, made the roster, as did reserve outfielder Trent Grisham, who did not see any action in the first two rounds.

PITCHERS

Gerrit Cole

Nestor Cortes

Jake Cousins

Luis Gil

Tim Hill

Clay Holmes

Tommy Kahnle

Mark Leiter Jr.

Tim Mayza

Carlos Rodon

Clarke Schmidt

Marcus Stroman

Luke Weaver

CATCHERS

Austin Wells

Jose Trevino

INFIELDERS

Anthony Rizzo

Gleyber Torres

Anthony Volpe

OUTFIELDERS

Jasson Dominguez

Trent Grisham

Aaron Judge

Juan Soto

Giancarlo Stanton

Alex Verdugo

UTILITY

Oswaldo Cabrera

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

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