Alex Cobb Injury: Updates on Rays Star's Arm and Return

The Tampa Bay Rays' pitching rotation is not a picture of perfect health, and it took another hit in the form of Alex Cobb. Cobb is not expected to be ready for Opening Day after being diagnosed with tendinitis in his right arm.

Continue for updates.

---

Cobb Expects to Pitch for Rays in April

Saturday, March 28 

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times provided comments from Cobb, who spoke about throwing and his return:

"

Cobb said throwing went well, it's "square 1 but I don't think there's as many squares,'' expects to pitch for #Rays sometime in April

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 28, 2015"

---

Cobb Comments on Recovery

Wednesday, March 25

"Cobb says his visit to Dr. Koco Eaton went well, could resume throwing in next couple of days," relayed Steve Carney of 620wdae.com. On March 23, Topkin noted Cobb said he was close to being pain free.

"Alex Cobb's 'right-forearm tightness' has been diagnosed as tendinitis, the Rays acknowledged Wednesday morning," per Bill Chastain of MLB.com on March 18. "The diagnosis, though not severe when compared to other possible scenarios, is expected to knock the right-hander out of his assignment as Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter against the Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 6," Chastain added.

President of baseball operations Matthew Silverman told Topkin that the team would look internally to fill Cobb's spot in the rotation but will also explore options from outside the organization.

Cobb was pitching against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 17 before he was forced to exit and undergo an MRI, Topkin first reported.  

"If it was something I was really concerned of, I probably wouldn't have thrown today at all," Cobb said, per Topkin. "This was something I knew about... It was not excruciating pain, it was just there. And I was like, this is kind of pointless to go through and risk longer term health over an inning."

Last year, Cobb finished with an ERA of 2.87 over 166.1 innings pitched, earning a record of 10-9 in the process.

The Rays will also be without Matt Moore until June at the earliest, Drew Smyly until mid-April and Alex Colome for an indefinite amount of time. There are certainly jobs available for the time being in the Tampa Bay rotation.