DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers certainly didn’t expect last December that they’d reach late August and free-agent signing Alex Cobb would yet to throw a pitch in the major leagues.

Hip inflammation has kept the 37-year-old away from the big-league ball club, but his desire to contribute for the Tigers this season continues to drive him toward a return.

Rehab continues to ramp up for Cobb as he’s now reached four outings this month and a move to Triple-A Toledo, but the expectations for what he can do for the Tigers this season are changing within the organization.

After starting his first seven rehab appearances this year, Cobb came out of the bullpen for the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday, pitching three scoreless, hitless innings with one walk and four strikeouts.

“I think we’ve shrunk dow

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