Giants pitcher Alex Cobb left with an apparent injury during the fifth inning of Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Mets.
NEW YORK -- Through the first nine games of the season, it appeared the Giants might have put together the best rotation in the Majors. The success came with a caveat, though.
The group is dominant when healthy, and on Tuesday a key addition was lost.
Right-hander Alex Cobb came out in the fifth inning of a 5-4 loss to the New York Mets and was put on the IL before the second game of the doubleheader. The official diagnosis is a right adductor strain, and the Giants did not have an initial timetable. Cobb was potentially headed for an MRI after getting treatment.
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SIGN UP HERE To fill the roster spot, the Giants added right-hander Yunior Marte to the bullpen. Utility man Luke Williams was activated as the 29th man for the second game of the doubleheader, and he will head back to Triple-A after the game.
Cobb said his initial read was that the injury was "very slight" and "not too bad," but any leg injury can be an issue for a pitcher.
Cobb was trying to remain hopeful. He said he didn't think he tore anything. Any down time, though, will be a blow to a free agent addition who was off to a very good start.
"Personally it stinks just because I've dealt with stuff all the time in my career," Cobb said. "You finally felt like you were in a good place physically, the ball was coming out well, we did everything we can to stay strong throughout a full season. And then just from a team standpoint, the starters were rolling -- all the pitchers were rolling. The team is rolling. It's fun to be a part of and we're battling this terrible road trip together.
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"Things were going smoothly for four innings and then it completely took a turn on us in that fifth. Yeah, disappointing."
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Cobb had an eventful afternoon on a cold day at Citi Field. He had to cover the plate in the first inning and was toppled over, and he made several sprints to first. In the fifth, Cobb ran over to cover on a potential double-play ball and he said he felt some tightness as the Mets asked for a review. He didn't think much of it, but when Jeff McNeil hit a two-run double, Cobb broke to cover the bag and immediately grabbed his groin.
The Giants already need an extra starter because the off day altered the schedule. They will need a spot starter on Saturday in Washington D.C., although they could turn to a bullpen game since they have two former starters -- Sam Long and Tyler Beede -- in their pen. Beyond that, things will have to be figured out, and it's possible that Jakob Junis or Sean Hjelle needs to be added.
Cobb was hopeful he wouldn't be out long, and he said he's confident in whatever direction the staff takes with the fifth spot.
"We've already had some key guys go down and you wouldn't even know," he said. "That's what championship clubs do."
