CLEVELAND, Ohio — Alex Cobb told reporters following Monday’s series-opening loss to the Yankees that he experienced back spasms and tightness due to tendinitis in his surgically repaired left hip prior to his start in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Cobb told cleveland.com that he had been pitching with the discomfort “for a while” before Monday’s start.
“Tendonitis kind of flares up every once in a while, and sometimes the back will tighten up along with that,” Cobb said. “I think that’s all we’re dealing with. I know it’s nothing that’s going to be something that I haven’t experienced or haven’t dealt with out on the mound.”
The veteran righty allowed three runs on five hits including a home run, with three walks and three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings as the Guardians lost, 5-2. After the game, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said the team’s medical staff was still checking on Cobb’s condition.
“His left hip was really tightening up on him and a little bit of back spasms going on as well,” Vogt said. “We’re still checking him out and it’s just unfortunate that it happened.”
Cobb had surgery on his hip that included removing bone chips and inserting anchors back on Oct. 31, 2023. He missed most of the regular season rehabbing his hip and a subsequent shoulder injury with San Francisco before joining Cleveland at the trade deadline in late July.
The 37-year-old right-hander made three regular season starts with the Guardians before being sidelined for most of September with blister and nail issues on his right hand. He started Game 3 of the AL Division Series in Detroit, but lasted just three innings and allowed two earned runs in a 3-0 Tigers win.
Vogt and Cleveland trainers went to the mound to check on Cobb early in the third inning Monday, but the righty remained in the game, walking the bases loaded before giving way to rookie lefty Joey Cantillo.
“He was kind of in and out, and he wanted to see if he could get a few more outs,” Vogt said.
Cantillo struggled in relief of Cobb, allowing two runs to score on a pair of wild pitches before striking out Alex Verdugo for the final out of the third. He uncorked two more wild pitches and allowed a run in the fourth on an Aaron Judge sacrifice fly. Cobb said he talked to the rookie after he came out of the game.
“I just feel responsible for him even having to be in that position in the first place,” Cobb said, “He’s got a really good future ahead of him, and going into bases loaded at Yankee Stadium in a playoff game is probably not ideal for anybody.”
