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Alex Cobb leaves with tight forearm

MLB, Tampa Bay Rays

Alex Cobb, who struck out three of nine batters he faced Tuesday, was removed for precautionary reasons because of right forearm tightness after tossing three perfect innings in Tampa Bay Rays' 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

After the game, Cobb had an MRI and the tightness was diagnosed as tendinitis, according to the Tampa Bay Times. It's possible he could miss the first few weeks of the season, the Times reports.

"We go through pains every day," said Cobb, who was expected to be the Rays' Opening Day starter, after the game. "It was not excruciating pain. It was just there, a cramp."

Cobb felt tightness in the bullpen before the game, but his arm loosened up once he took the mound. He was only scheduled to pitch four innings.

"I felt it was best to shut it down after three," Cobb said. "If I was concerned about it, I wouldn't have thrown at all."

Cobb told the Times he felt some tightness for the past few days but didn't want to disrupt his work schedule leading up to the April 6 opener.

"I think right now we appreciate him being cautious, and we'll be cautious with it, too," manager Kevin Cash told the Times.

The Rays already are without starter Matt Moore, who had Tommy John surgery last April and won't be ready until June, No. 3 starter Drew Smyly, who the Times reports has shoulder tendinitis and will miss a few weeks to start the season, and reliever Alex Colome, who has pneumonia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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