BALTIMORE -- Having signed a four-year contract worth $57 million on March 21, Alex Cobb is set for his Orioles debut. The 30-year-old right-hander will start on Saturday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Cobb was optioned to Double-A Bowie on March 29, but he hasn't pitched for the Baysox. He has thrown four simulated games, and on Monday, he tossed six innings in Sarasota, Fla.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has been eager for Cobb to join the rotation, and on Wednesday, pitching coach Roger McDowell went to Bowie to watch him throw a bullpen session.
"That went well," Showalter said on Wednesday. "Alex can't be here yet until tomorrow for some reason, and so we're going to have to add him on Saturday, which is a good thing."
In six Major League seasons and 115 appearances for the Rays, Cobb was 48-35 and had a 3.50 ERA. He has made seven career starts at Fenway Park and is 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA.