CLEVELAND (AP) — Guardians starter Alex Cobb was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a blister on his middle finger, an injury that could impact Cleveland's postseason pitching plans.
Cobb, who has helped stabilize the team's rotation since being acquired in a July trade from San Francisco, recently developed the blister. He was also sidelined with a broken nail on his index finger.
The team made the move before opening a four-game series against Tampa Bay.
The 36-year-old Cobb is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in three starts for the Guardians, who have a 4 1/2-game lead over second-place Kansas City in the AL Central. Cobb recently carried a perfect game into the sixth inning against Pittsburgh.
Guardians first-year manager Stephen Vogt has had to juggle his rotation all season because of injuries. The team acquired Cobb and signed Matthew Boyd to give them depth and experience for its young staff.
Cobb's debut with Cleveland had been delayed by blister issues he developed while getting ready to pitch after a long layoff following hip surgery in October.
To fill Cobb's roster spot, the Guardians brought up right-hander Andrew Walters from Triple-A Columbus.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Alex Cobb delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starter Alex Cobb (35) throws a practice pitch after an injury as pitching coach Carl Willis, front right, watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians starter Alex Cobb reacts between pitches during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
MILAN (AP) — The United States player pool has never been more prominent in Europe’s top soccer leagues and two of its key players scored on the opening night of the continent’s top competition on Tuesday.
Christian Pulisic marked his upcoming birthday by scoring an early goal to kick off AC Milan’s Champions League campaign.
But that strike, less than three minutes in, was the last thing he had to smile about as Milan went on to lose 3-1 at home to Liverpool in their opening match in the revamped competition.
Pulisic’s performance this season is as good as his team’s is bad.
Milan has won just one of its five matches this season under new coach Paulo Fonseca. Pulisic, who turns 26 on Wednesday, has three goals in that same period with two assists.
“It's another bad result for us, we have to find answers, improve and win matches,” Pulisic said after the loss to Liverpool.
“We had the right energy at times but we couldn’t keep it up consistently ... it's been a difficult start to the season for us, we're not happy and we have to change things.”
Pulisic was not the only American to find the back of the net on Tuesday. And it was a happier night for USMNT teammate Weston McKennie, who scored Juventus’ second during a 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in an earlier match.
Three other Americans also featured on the opening day of the revamped Champions League, with Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman and Richie Ledezma playing for PSV.
More of their compatriots — such as Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and injured Juventus forward Tim Weah — could feature later this week or further on in the competition.
With so many players competing at club soccer’s highest level, that can only be good news for new U.S coach Mauricio Pochettino as the Americans ramp up for a home World Cup in 2026.
Pulisic was the first American to play in a Champions League final when he won the competition with Chelsea in 2021.
He moved to Milan before the start of last season and had an impressive debut campaign at the Italian team, with 15 goals across all competitions.
That made Pulisic the first midfielder to score more than 10 goals for Milan — excluding penalties — since Kaka in the 2005-06 season.
Kaka was at San Siro for Tuesday's match and gave a short speech to the Rossoneri fans before kickoff. The former Brazil international — and World Cup winner — spent six seasons at Milan, helping it to its last Champions League title in 2007.
Pulisic has made a flying start to the current season too, with two goals and two assists in Milan's four opening Serie A matches.
He'll need to continue that streak to help Milan kickstart its campaign, with another key match in just five days: the city derby against fierce rival — and defending Serie A champion — Inter Milan.
“It's a huge game for us,” Pulisic added. “And we have to give everything, fight and turn things around.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus' Weston McKennie celebrates with teammates Federico Gatti, top, and Andrea Cambiaso, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Juventus' Weston McKennie celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, center, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, second from right, scores his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
