Giants' Alex Cobb: Starting second game for Giants
Rotowire
Cobb will start the second game of the season for the Giants on Saturday versus the Yankees, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Cobb has been battling some knee discomfort lately, but he threw four innings in a minor-league game Monday, clearing the way for him to take his first turn of the regular season. Given the difficult matchup and probably a relatively limited workload for Cobb, fantasy managers might want to consider benching him this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Throws four innings in Scottsdale
Rotowire
Cobb (knee) threw four innings in a minor-league contest in Scottsdale on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Cobb told Pavlovic after the game that he felt "good" and that he'll be ready for the start of the season. While the right-hander does appear likely to be in the rotation from the start of the campaign, the Giants have not decided if Cobb will start the second game of the season or get pushed back. It's something to keep an eye on for those who roster Cobb in fantasy leagues, as he would face the Yankees if does start the second game or the White Sox if pushed down.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Minor-league game on tap
Rotowire
Cobb (knee) is slated to pitch in a minor-league game Monday on the back fields of Giants camp, Danny Emerman of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.
Cobb's bruised knee apparently responded well to his bullpen session Saturday, so he'll likely aim to get at least a few innings under his belt Monday as he aims to avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the 2023 season. If Cobb checks out fine following Monday's outing, he could be cleared to make a start in New York next weekend in the Giants' season-opening series with the Yankees.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Throwing bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Cobb (knee) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Cobb was labeled "iffy" for the start of the season by manager Gabe Kapler on Thursday, but it appears he's trending in the right direction. The right-hander is still scheduled to start the second game of the season, as the Giants haven't announced an alternative plan for their rotation yet.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Might miss start of season
Rotowire
Cobb (knee) might not be on the active roster on Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Cobb took a comebacker off his knee March 11, though he didn't seem to be hindered by the injury after he threw five frames five days later. However, the issue has kept him off the mound since and manager Gabe Kapler remarked that Cobb's status for the start of the regular season is "iffy." Injuries have played a major role in Cobb's career, though he did manage to record 149.2 frames in 2022 while maintaining a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: To start second game of season
Rotowire
Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced Tuesday that Cobb (knee) will start the second game of the regular season, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Clearly that knee contusion that Cobb suffered Saturday in a Cactus League start against the Dodgers is not going to be a lingering issue. The veteran right-hander pitched to a 3.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 151:43 K:BB over 149.2 innings (28 starts) for San Francisco last season.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Cobb (knee) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The side session should provide the Giants with a good gauge for how Cobb's left knee is feeling two days after it was struck by a line drive during his Cactus League start versus the Dodgers. Cobb was diagnosed with a bruise after follow-up tests ruled out any structural damage to the knee, so the right-hander looks as though he could be on track to return to the Giants' spring pitching schedule without having to miss a start. The team will offer an update on his next steps once he completes the bullpen session.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Diagnosed with knee contusion
Rotowire
Cobb was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after leaving Saturday's Cactus League start against the Dodgers and is hopeful to make his next scheduled start, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Cobb was hit in the knee with a line drive during the outing, and while he looked to be in significant pain, the right-hander's tests came back negative. The Giants will want to make sure the 35-year-old is healthy before he gets back on the mound, but there's a very good chance that Cobb will be ready for the beginning of the season.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Hit in leg by line drive
Rotowire
Cobb was hit in the leg by a line drive in his start Saturday against the Dodgers, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Cobb struck out five while allowing one run on two hits and no walks in three innings of work before his day was ended by a Miguel Vargas liner. He stayed down in pain initially, but the fact that he was able to walk off the field means he might not miss much (if any) time.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Changing pitch mix
Rotowire
Cobb is working on incorporating a cutter and a slider into his pitch mix, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Cobb is also going to call his own games this season using the PitchCom system. The righty was solid last year with a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 149.2 innings across 28 starts, and he racked up a career-high 151 strikeouts. Cobb will still likely lean on his splitter and sinker, which accounted for a combined 84.5 percent of his pitches last season, per Statcast. He projects as a mid-rotation option for the Giants in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Tough-luck loser
Rotowire
Cobb (7-8) took the loss during Tuesday's 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Padres, allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts in five innings.
Cobb kept San Diego in check aside from one run on two hits in the third inning and departed with the game at a manageable 1-0 deficit; however, the bullpen surrendered four runs in the sixth to cement his second loss in three starts. The 34-year-old induced an impressive 16 swinging strikes on just 73 pitches to post his 11th start with at least seven strikeouts, easily surpassing his previous career high of seven such starts set in 2013. He finishes the season with a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 151 strikeouts in 149.2 innings across 28 starts.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Moving up to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Cobb will start Tuesday's game against the Padres instead of Wednesday as previously scheduled, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The 34-year-old lined up to start Wednesday's series finale but will be pushed up a day with Carlos Rodon having his final turn through the rotation skipped for workload management. Cobb made his previous start Friday, so he could have reduced workload Tuesday while pitching on three days rest.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Grabs seventh win
Rotowire
Cobb (7-7) allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Cobb wasn't at his sharpest Friday, but he made it through five frames with enough run support to earn his first win in three starts. He's given up 11 runs over his last 15.1 innings. The right-hander now has a 3.79 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 144:43 K:BB through 144.2 innings across 27 starts this season. Cobb is projected for one more start in 2022, a road outing in San Diego next week.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Sleeper pitchers for Week 26 (Sept. 26-Oct. 5)
Rotowire
Cobb's turnaround after missing time with a neck strain in June has been underappreciated. He has a 2.91 ERA in 18 starts since. The Rockies on the road make for a great matchup, and the Padres lately haven't been so tough either.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Surrenders five runs in loss
Rotowire
Cobb (6-7) took the loss during Saturday's 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings.
Cobb permitted just one baserunner through three innings before falling apart in the fourth, surrendering all five runs on six baserunners to fall in line for his first loss since Aug. 3. The 34-year-old has now logged two poor starts, two excellent ones and one mediocre turn through five September starts with the numbers culminating to a 3.14 ERA across 28.2 innings. Cobb carries a 3.67 ERA and 1.27 WHIP into a rematch with Arizona next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Sleeper pitchers for Week 25 (Sept. 19-25)
Rotowire
Cobb's matchup against the Diamondbacks this week is middle of the road, but he just shut out the Braves over seven innings and has been on quite a roll since recovering from a neck strain in July, compiling a 2.55 ERA across 16 starts.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Decent in no-decision
Rotowire
Cobb allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Sunday.
Cobb allowed an RBI double to Justin Turner in the fourth inning and an RBI single to Freddie Freeman in the sixth. It was the just second time in five starts that Cobb's allowed runs to score, with both of those instances coming against the Dodgers. The right-hander has been quietly effective with a 3.48 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 136:40 K:BB through 134.2 innings across 25 starts this season. He'll look to get back in the win column next week in a projected road start versus Arizona.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Completes seven shutout frames
Rotowire
Cobb (6-6) earned the win over Atlanta on Monday, allowing six hits and striking out seven batters over seven scoreless innings.
Cobb scattered six singles in the victory and didn't walk any batters for just the second time in his past 10 starts. The right-hander allowed only two runners to reach second base, and none made it to third. He racked up 18 swinging strikes in the outing and fanned exactly seven batters for the third time in his past four starts. Cobb started the season poorly, posting a 6.25 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over his first seven games, but he has been much better since then, registering a 2.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 94:28 K:BB across 17 contests. Remarkably, Cobb's victory Monday was only his third over the impressive 17-game span.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Struggles at Dodger Stadium
Rotowire
Cobb did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.
Cobb surrendered a three-run homer to Justin Turner with nobody out in the fifth to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, though the Giants came back to get Cobb off the hook for the loss. This was only the fourth home run allowed by the 34-year-old in 80.2 innings during his last 14 starts. The righty is drastically better at home with a 2.57 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 70 innings compared to a 5.16 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 52.1 innings away from San Francisco.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Alex Cobb: Twirls gem against Phillies
Rotowire
Cobb (5-6) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings in a 13-1 victory over Philadelphia. He struck out seven.
The Giants got to Kyle Gibson early and Cobb cruised from there en route to his fifth win. Cobb now sits with a 2.83 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 in eight starts since the All-Star break (47.2 innings), and the underlying numbers suggest there may be even more improvement coming to his ERA. Cobb's 2.85 FIP this season would rank seventh in all of baseball if he had enough innings to qualify.
