Three weeks ago the Rays named Alex Cobb as their Opening Day starter, but now he’s going to begin the season on the disabled list. Their new Opening Day starter will be Chris Archer, who threw 195 innings with a 3.33 ERA and 173/72 K/BB ratio last season.
Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Alex Colome are all injured, so the Rays’ rotation will be patched together early on. They’re hoping that Cobb will return in mid-April.
Archer will be the first pitcher other than David Price or James Shields to start Opening Day for the Rays since 2007.
