Giants to activate pitcher Alex Cobb from injured list

The Giants will activate right-hander Alex Cobb from the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday’s game against the Nationals, San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler told reporters (including MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado). Cobb is scheduled to make his third start of the season.

Returning Sunday will put Cobb’s IL stint slightly beyond the 10-day minimum, as his placement came in between games of the Giants’ doubleheader with the Mets on April 19. Cobb started the first game and lasted 4 1/3 innings before being removed after a mound visit from the team trainer.

The Giants have had to deal with several absences in the early going, due to both injuries and a minor COVID-19 outbreak on the roster. The position player side has been hardest hit, though both Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani (right ankle inflammation) have missed time, and DeSclafani isn’t expected to return for at least a few more weeks. Fortunately for San Francisco, the rest of the rotation has picked up the slack, with Logan Webb, Carlos Rodon, and Alex Wood all ranging from good to great thus far in 2022. The Giants have also gotten good results from the opener/bulk pitcher combo of Sam Long and Jakob Junis.

Cobb is in his first season in San Francisco, signing a two-year, $20M free agent deal with the Giants just prior to the lockout. Injuries have hampered Cobb over the last three seasons, though he pitched well when healthy last year with the Angels, delivering a 3.76 ERA and some solid secondary numbers over 93 1/3 innings.