MLB News: Tampa Bay Rays To Shut Down Alex Cobb Due To Forearm Injury

The Tampa Bay Rays have decided to temporarily shut down Alex Cobb due to soreness in his right forearm although reports say that the right-handed pitcher will try to play through the injury before evaluating the injury for possible surgery. The Tampa Bay Times confirms that there is a partial tear in Cobb’s elbow ligament after an MRI and that Cobb will now undergo treatment and rest first before a possible Tommy John surgery.

A Tommy John surgery is a procedure wherein a healthy tendon is extracted from an arm or leg and used to replace an arm’s torn ligament. If Cobb goes through the procedure, he is likely to miss the rest of the regular season. Cobb, who missed games since March 17 because of forearm tendinitis, was scheduled for a throwing session on Sunday but the 27 year old pitcher withdrew from practice saying that the injury was flaring up.

"He just didn't feel as good as he was hoping," Rays manager Kevin Cash said in the article. "Any time you're dealing with a pitcher's arm, it's obviously concerning."

Cobb has been one of the reliable pitchers for the Rays the past two seasons going 10-9 in 2014 with 2.87 ERA that year and 2.76 ERA in 2013. Cobb did not have any comment about his status but was seen with orthopedist Dr. Koco Eaton, according to the same report.

Without Cobb in the regular rotation, the Rays has started pitchers Chris Archer with 1.64 ERA, Jake Odorizzi with 2.21 ERA and Nathan Karns with 4.05 ERA for most of the games in this regular season.

The Rays are currently second in the East division of the American League with 14 wins against 13 losses so far this season. Tampa Bay takes on the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday before hosting the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees in their next eight outings at home.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.