Guardians Activate Alex Cobb For ALDS Roster

The Guardians released their 26-man roster for the AL Division Series this morning, and veteran right-hander Alex Cobb was included after being activated from the 15-day injured list.  Cobb has pitched in just one MLB game since August 14 due to a pair of IL stints — first due to a fractured fingernail, and now this latest stint due to blisters on his right hand.

It has been an injury-plagued season overall for Cobb, as he has only three total starts and he didn’t make his season debut until August 9.  Cobb had hip surgery last October, and his recovery from that surgery was delayed by both some shoulder soreness and then some earlier blister issues.  As it turned out, Cobb’s final year with the Giants didn’t even involve one last trip to the mound in a San Francisco uniform, as the Giants dealt the veteran starter to the Guardians at the trade deadline.

Cleveland felt confident enough in Cobb’s status to swing the trade despite his lack of action during the season, and his subsequent pair of trips to the IL haven’t exactly calmed any doubts about his health.  However, the Guards were able to win the AL Central even with Cobb providing limited help, and for what it’s worth, he did pitch well (2.76 ERA in 16 1/3 innings) over his three starts with his new club.

An impactful October performance would certainly help Cobb make a true mark on his new team, though it remains to be seen exactly how the Guardians might deploy Cobb in the ALDS.  Tanner Bibee is the scheduled starter for Game 1 and Matthew Boyd is the likeliest candidate to start Game 2, though the Guards could go in many directions given the uncertain nature of their rotation.  Considering how Cobb is just returning from the IL, his innings could be limited if he does get a start, or Cleveland might even use him as a bulk pitcher (behind an opener) or perhaps in a piggyback capacity.  The Guardians are hoping to get as much as they can out of their starters and then rely on their elite bullpen.

Here is Cleveland’s full 26-man roster for its ALDS matchup against the Tigers.  Cobb, Bibee, Gavin Williams, Emmanuel Clase, Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Eli Morgan, and Andrew Walters are the right-handed pitchers, and Boyd, Tim Herrin, Joey Cantillo, and Erik Sabrowski are the four southpaws on the roster.  The list of position players consists of catchers Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges, utilityman David Fry, infielders Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, Brayan Rocchio, Daniel Schneemann, and Kyle Manzardo, and outfielders Steven Kwan, Lane Thomas, Jhonkensy Noel, Will Brennan, and Tyler Freeman.