ST. PETERSBURG -- Doubt crept into the mind of Alex Cobb -- his rehab after 2015 Tommy John surgery indefinitely paused after a far-from-sharp July 11 appearance. His 2016 season -- and future -- were uncertain. His mechanics weren't there. His two starts with Class A Advanced Charlotte were a mess.
Fast forward less than two months, and Cobb is three starts into his five-start MLB season. In 17 2/3 innings, he's allowed six earned runs with 12 strikeouts and just four walks. He's ahead of anyone's expectations given the uncertainty he battled earlier in the summer.