When the Angels traded for Alex Cobb on February 2, 2021 from the Baltimore Orioles, it brought the 34-year-old and manager Joe Maddon back together for the first time since 2014. With the Angels starting rotation in flux, Cobb provided veteran leadership to a young pitching staff while performing at his best for the first time in a number of years.
Following a no-decision in his Angels debut on April 3 versus the Chicago White Sox (6 IP, 3 ER and 7 K), the Boston, MA native struggled in his remaining three starts during the month of April.