MLB PLAYER NEWS

Rays’ Cobb placed on 15-day disabled list

The Sports Xchange

April 14, 2014 at 1:25 am.

Alex Cobb has been placed on the DL. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

CINCINNATI — The injury bug continues to bite the Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation. Left-hander Alex Cobb, who seemingly had breezed through seven shutout innings on Saturday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique.

Manager Joe Maddon pulled Cobb after just 87 pitches despite having allowed only four hits with no walks and five strikeouts during the Rays’ 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

“I thought at first it was a dehydration issue,” said Maddon. “I didn’t see anything out there other than a little stretching. I’m not quite sure when it happened.”

Cobb was sent back to St. Petersburg on Sunday for an MRI. Maddon said if the tests results are encouraging, Cobb could miss one or two starts. Lefty Jeff Beliveau was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sunday to provide some depth.

Left-hander Matt Moore is nursing a sore left elbow, the extent of which is not yet known. Left-hander Erik Bedard, who joined the club on Saturday, likely will start Thursday’s game against the Yankees, says Maddon.

Tampa’s bullpen was further taxed on Sunday during a 12-4 loss at Cincinnati when lefty Cesar Ramos lasted just two-plus innings on Sunday. In addition, the Rays were without right-hander Joel Peralta, who was ill on Sunday. Five relievers combined to allow 10 hits and eight runs on Sunday.

Monday’s starter, right-hander Chris Archer, said he won’t try to shoulder the burden with the Rays down two starters and a beleaguered bullpen.

“I still have to do the same thing I’ve always wanted to,” Archer said. “Our standard is nothing but our best as a rotation. When we’re at our best, we can go complete games. I’m not going to feel any pressure.”