There's hope for Alex Cobb after all

No one was quite sure what the Cleveland Guardians were going to get out of starting pitcher Alex Cobb in his second start. Cobb's Guardians debut did not go particularly well, allowing four runs (five total) in 4.2 innings against the Minnesota Twins, an outing that can only be considered less-than-stellar. The good news is that Cobb did not dwell on that bad outing, putting it behind him to get ready for his next start, a game that featured a performance that shows there is still hope for him this season.

Taking the mound against the Chicago Cubs in Wednesday's series finale, Cobb was significantly better this time around. Allowing just one run on three hits in 5.2 innings, Cobb delivered the type of performance that has been his calling card for quite some time. It is about pitching well enough and deep enough into a game while allowing the offense to get a lead and handing off to the bullpen when needed. Cobb accomplished all of that in Cleveland's 6-1 win over the Cubs.

The kneejerk reaction from many after Cobb's first start was one of concern, but it appears that the reactionary nature many acted in was very premature. Cobb's start in Minnesota was his first major league appearance of the 2024 season and his first since undergoing hip surgery in the offseason. Even though Cobb had been ramping up before being acquired by Cleveland and was doing well in the minors before his season debut, it is a much different scenario when taking the mound in a major league ballpark.

While asking Cobb to repeat his outing against the Cubs each time out may be a bit much, finding a happy middle ground between his first and second starts could go a long way for the Guardians the rest of the way. Cleveland is hoping that Cobb and Matthew Boyd, to a lesser extent, are able to provide some stability to a rotation that desperately needs it. The early returns have been positive, but more will be needed if this team is going to go on an extended run come October.