Cobb (hip) looked uncomfortable covering first base during a live batting practice session Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Cobb threw the ball well enough, but moving off the mound to field his position seemed to be a problem. What that means exactly for the veteran right-hander's timeline is uncertain, but it presents another obstacle before he'll be cleared to pitch in games. Cobb has been shelved since February after being diagnosed with inflammation in his surgically repaired right hip. He's currently on the 15-day injured list but is a candidate to shift to the 60-day IL if the Tigers need to free up a 40-man roster spot, as a season debut before late May seems unlikely at this point.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Live BP on tap soon
Rotowire
Cobb (hip) said Friday that he expects to throw a live batting practice session early next week, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Cobb has been throwing bullpen sessions, but this will be his first time facing hitters since he was diagnosed with right hip inflammation at the beginning of spring training. There is no timeline for the veteran right-hander's return, but it likely won't happen for at least another month or so.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Cobb (hip) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Right hip inflammation has plagued Cobb since the early stages of spring camp, and he didn't resume throwing off a mound until last week. He remains without a clear return timeline and likely won't have one until he's cleared to face live hitters, but he shouldn't be expected back for at least another month.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Resumes mound work
Rotowire
Cobb (hip) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is slated to throw another one Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Saturday's session was the first time Cobb has thrown off the mound since he was diagnosed with right hip inflammation at the beginning of spring training. The Tigers had indicated previously that Cobb might be ready to pitch in games by mid-March, but clearly he's not ready for that yet. There's no timetable for the veteran right-hander's return, but he can safely be expected to miss at least the first month or so of the season.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Receives injection
Rotowire
Cobb (hip) received an epidural injection to further aid in his recovery process, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
He had already received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this month and played catch over the weekend. Cobb is scheduled to play catch again Wednesday but will not get into games until at least mid-March (a return timeline of a month was estimated Feb. 12). He was up around 150 innings in 2022 and 2023, but injuries greatly plagued him in 2021 and 2024, and it looks like 2025 is perhaps trending in a similar direction.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Cobb (hip) played catch Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Friday marked Cobb's first time throwing since he was shut down earlier this month due to hip inflammation. He is still expected to miss roughly the first month of the regular season, but he said Saturday that his hip feels much better, which is a positive sign.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Out one month with hip inflammation
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that Cobb will be set back for about a month due to right hip inflammation, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Cobb's hip began bothering him as he was building up his offseason throwing program. He's been given a platelet-rich plasma injection and will be limited to rehab for a while. The veteran righty has some history with hip issues, although it was his left hip that he had surgery on last offseason. With Cobb likely to miss at least the first month of the season, there's an open spot in the Tigers' rotation. Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Kenta Maeda, Ty Madden, Brant Hurter and Keider Montero could all be in the mix to fill in.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Official with Tigers
Rotowire
Cobb passed his physical with the Tigers on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The Tigers agreed to a one-year contract with Cobb on Monday, a deal which includes $15 million for 2025 with incentives of $1 million apiece for reaching the 140- and 150-inning thresholds. Cobb dealt with injuries during his one season with the Guardians in 2024, but he logged 149.2 and 151.1 innings during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively, as part of the Giants' rotation.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Gets one-year deal from Detroit
Rotowire
The Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract with Cobb, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Cobb has a connection with president of baseball operations Scott Harris, as the two were both with the Giants during the 2022 season. The veteran right-hander was limited to just 16.1 regular-season innings and 5.2 postseason frames with the Guardians in 2024 due to a variety of injuries but has typically been a solid mid-rotation starter when healthy. Cobb will get to pitch half his games in a pitcher-friendly venue at Comerica Park.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Off ALCS roster due to back injury
Rotowire
The Guardians removed Cobb from their ALCS roster due to an acute left low-back strain.
Cobb lasted 2.2 innings in his Game 1 start against the Yankees, getting charged with three runs on five hits and three walks. Because he's being removed from the roster due to injury, he is now ineligible for the World Series, should the Guardians advance. Ben Lively has absorbed Cobb's roster spot and might also get an ALCS start in his place.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Will start Game 1 of ALCS
Rotowire
Cobb has been named the starter for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series versus the Yankees, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Cobb was able to start only three games during the regular season, though he was effective with a 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 16.1 innings. The right-hander started Game 3 of the ALDS versus Detroit and took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two batters over three frames. That was his first outing since Sept. 1, so Cobb may not be ready to handle a full workload -- he exited after 41 pitches in his ALDS start.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Named ALDS Game 3 starter
Rotowire
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Monday that Cobb will start Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALDS in Detroit, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Cobb was added to the roster prior to the ALDS after missing the end of the regular season with a blister on his pitching hand, and the Guardians will rely on him to be part of their rotation for the series. The veteran right-hander was limited to just three starts during the regular season due to injury but posted a 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 16.1 innings. It's unclear what kind of workload Cobb might be able to handle in Game 3, but Cleveland is unlikely to count on him to work deep into the contest.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Activated from IL for ALDS
Rotowire
Cobb (finger) is included on the Guardians' ALDS roster.
Cobb ended the regular season on the injured list due to a right finger blister, but his inclusion on the roster for the division series versus the Tigers suggests he's recovered. It's unclear if Cobb will be asked to start a game during the series or if he will serve as an option out of the bullpen. The right-hander posted a 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 16.1 innings across three starts during the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Back to injured list with blister
Rotowire
The Guardians placed Cobb on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a right hand blister, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Cobb had to be scratched from a scheduled start this past weekend due to the issue and didn't heal fast enough to avoid another stint on the IL. He'll be eligible to return during the final week of the season and should be ready to go by that time. Cobb's injury means both Joey Cantillo and Ben Lively (thigh), presuming the latter is healthy enough to do so, should remain in the Cleveland rotation.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Scratched from Saturday start
Rotowire
Cobb will not make his scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers due to a blister on his pitching hand, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Cobb's return from the 60-day injured list was delayed in mid-August due to a fractured fingernail, and he's now developing the beginnings of a blister on the index finger on the same hand. The Guardians are being cautious with the right-hander and will instead turn to Gavin Williams to start Saturday's game on four days' rest. Cleveland is viewing Cobb as day-to-day.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Takes perfect game into seventh
Rotowire
Cobb (2-1) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run (zero earned) on two hits over six innings against the Pirates. He struck out six.
Cobb (finger) returned from the 15-day injured list to make just his third start of the season and was lights-out, starting the game by retiring the first 18 batters he faced. In the seventh, Isiah Kiner-Falefa rocketed a ground ball up the middle that caught Cobb's non-pitching hand just above the heel of his glove and resulted in an infield single. Cobb was briefly shaken up but stayed in the game to face one more batter, allowing a single to Bryan Reynolds before being removed after 80 pitches. Following a rough first outing with the Guardians, Cobb has allowed just one earned run and seven total baserunners over his last two outings spanning 11.2 innings. He'll look to continue to spearhead the Cleveland charge towards a division pennant when he makes his next start, currently slated to take place in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Activated for Sunday's start
Rotowire
The Guardians reinstated Cobb (finger) from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Pirates, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander landed on the injured list due to a fractured fingernail after his Aug. 14 start against the Cubs, but he'll rejoin the rotation after missing little more than the 15-day minimum. Cobb struggled in his season debut at Minnesota in early August with four earned runs allowed across 4.2 innings, but he pitched much better versus Chicago, as he gave up just one run in 5.2 frames.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Rejoining rotation Sunday
Rotowire
Cobb (fingernail) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Pirates, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Cobb will wind up spending just one day beyond the minimum on the 15-day IL due to a cracked fingernail on his pitching hand. He did not make a rehab start, but given the brevity of his absence, Cobb should be able to handle a relatively normal workload versus the Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Tosses bullpen session
Rotowire
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that Cobb (fingernail) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The team hasn't provided an update regarding how Cobb felt coming out of the side session, but assuming he was able to throw all his pitches without being inhibited by the fractured nail on his right hand, he should throw a live batting practice session by the middle of the week. Given that Cobb was first placed on the 15-day injured list this past Monday due to the fingernail issue, he may not need a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.
... See More... See Less
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Secures first victory as Guardian
Rotowire
Cobb (1-1) earned the win over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings.
Cobb struggled in his team debut last Friday, allowing five runs (four earned) over 4.2 frames. He was much better in his second outing, yielding just a fourth-inning run while getting through 5.2 frames on a relatively efficient 80 pitches. Cobb may still be on a mildly regulated pitch count since he missed the first four-plus months of the campaign following offseason hip surgery and topped out at 69 pitches during his minor-league rehab stint, but he should have any restriction lifted soon. His next start is projected to be a tough matchup against the Yankees in New York.
