Rays' Cobb to start Friday for 1st time since 2014
After being out of action for close to two years following Tommy John surgery, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb is set to make his long-awaited return to the big leagues.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to start Friday against the American League-leading Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.
"Man, I'm happy," Cobb said Monday, according to MLB.com's Bill Chastain. "I've had some setbacks in the past where I gained another perspective for how fortunate I am to be up in the big leagues, and none's compared to this one.
"It's a very humbling experience to go down and be away from the game that you loved so much for so long. So to be close to where I'm at, know that I'm going to get an opportunity to pitch this year, I'm very thankful about that."
Cobb will join a six-man rotation, along with Chris Archer, Matt Andriese, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, and Blake Snell, which the Rays plan to use for the remainder of the season.
"It was actually a pretty simple decision," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We feel like we have six guys that all have a reason to be starters. With Cobb, it's so important to get him back here. He's worked so hard to get through the injury to get back. Let him get as many innings here as possible in September, let him have some success and go into the offseason feeling normal."
Cobb underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015 after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Prior to his injury, Cobb had two consecutive seasons with sub-3.00 ERAs, which also included 21 wins.