Nestor Cortes rode the subway to Yankee Stadium last season and said that “nobody really recognized me,” both because of the mask he wore and his relative obscurity: Before last season, he sported a career 6.72 ERA in 42 games.

He is now recognized as the Yankees’ possible last hope.

After an All-Star campaign, Cortes will get the ball for a crucial Game 4 of the ALCS on Sunday, hoping to breathe life into a Yankees’ season that is near its end.

“I’m up for the challenge,” Cortes said before the Yankees lost, 5-0, to the Astros in Game 3 in The Bronx on Saturday, falling behind three games to none. “I feel like this is a win-win for me. I’m pitching in the ALCS, and if we win, we have more life. So just happy to be here and take advantage of the opportunity.”

The lefty was excellent in the ALDS, when he combined to limit the Guardians to three runs in 10 innings (2.70 ERA). Cortes came back on three days’ rest for the decisive Game 5, in which he let up a run in five innings to help the Yankees clinch the series.

After his 61-pitch outing on short rest, Cortes said he felt his “usual” level of soreness. He has resumed his typical throwing routine leading up to Sunday, which he will pitch on normal rest.

Cortes pitched just once against Houston in the regular season, allowing three runs in five innings in late June. Jose Altuve hit a homer on Cortes’ first pitch of the game (“jumped on the fastball,” the pitcher said) and Houston utilityman Mauricio Dubon hit a “soft contact or broken bat,” two-run single in the fourth inning

“I think the game plan was spot-on that time around,” said Cortes, who struck out seven in the outing. “Obviously it’s months since that happened. We’re going to be able to adjust based on what we have seen the last two games and [Saturday].”

That the 27-year-old from Cuba, who grew up in Miami, is in the major leagues with a low-90s fastball is remarkable enough. Rising to an All-Star in a season in which he finished 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA is nearly unbelievable.

Being given the ball in Game 4 of the ALCS, hoping to earn the Yankees first postseason win over the Astros this season is one more chapter of a remarkable story that manager Aaron Boone is just about ready to stop discussing.

“We’ve talked a lot about his journey. It’s a great story. But here we are in the middle, later part of October and he’s a critical figure to our team, a critical person, player to our team,” Boone said. “I think at this point over the last couple of years he’s proven that he is just a frontline, impact pitcher in the game.”

Cortes will have to prove he is the right pitcher to take down Houston after Jameson Taillon, Luis Severino and Gerrit Cole failed. If so, he might have to upgrade from the hoodie he now wears when trying to be covert around New York.

“It’s great to be recognized. Obviously when you’re doing good it’s even better because you know people like you,” Cortes said. “But hopefully I’m still loved from here on out.”