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Webb to be sidelined for six weeks

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By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

04/25/09 7:26 PM ET

PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb has a strained teres major muscle in the back of his right shoulder and will not pitch in a big league game for at least six weeks.

Arizona's ace experienced tightness in his right shoulder playing catch before a scheduled bullpen session on Friday. He was immediately shut down and examined by team doctor Michael Lee later that afternoon. In the home dugout before Saturday's game against the Giants, Webb explained his status and said he hopes to start throwing in three weeks. He expects a few bullpen sessions and at least one rehab start before pitching for the big league club.

The pitcher will start by taking one week off followed by two weeks of exercises to strengthen the shoulder.

"Obviously, I'm not real happy and it's not what we wanted to hear," Webb said. "Dr. Lee said it was a three-to-six-week deal whenever you strain your shoulder. We went on the three-week side of it first and now we are going to go with the six-week side of it."

"It's frustrating because what I feel now, I feel fine," Webb added. "Just when I throw do I get the pain, so hopefully this will give it a little more time to heal and we will be ready to go in a few more weeks."

On Tuesday, Webb threw 33 pitches during a bullpen session, the first time he has taken the mound since being placed on the DL with shoulder stiffness following his Opening Day start. In the opener, Webb allowed six runs on six hits in four innings against Colorado. An MRI performed on April 10 showed no unusual structural damage.

Webb said he noticed the stiffness in his shoulder during his final start of Spring Training.

"No one pitch really did it," Webb said. "In between an inning and then going back out there after that inning, it just felt like it was a little stiff. Other than that, no one pitch where I can pinpoint when it happened."

Webb conceded that it's going to take time for him to build up his pitch count and arm strength, but added that his shoulder feels as strong as it has ever felt. He said his injury was described to him as "a hamstring pull or strain in your arm."

"Everybody goes through injuries over the course of the season and it's something you have to deal with," manager Bob Melvin said. "Obviously, he's our ace and we would certainly like for him to be pitching right now, but it's something you have to deal with and move forward."

Webb has been a workhorse for the Diamondbacks since he first took the mound for the club in 2003. During the last four seasons, Webb has averaged 232 innings pitched. He pitched 180 2/3 innings during his rookie year and followed with 208 innings pitched in 2004.

The three-time All-Star won the National League Cy Young Award in 2006.

"I just think I did something in Spring Training that caused it," Webb said. "The wear and tear on the scan looks really good, so that's encouraging."

Considering Webb's innings pitched and his recent history with the shoulder, Melvin was asked if Webb's injury could be worse than it seems. The manager remained optimistic.

"I really don't even want to go that far, I prefer not to," Melvin said. "This is a guy that has been very healthy for us and he's been out there as much as any pitcher in all of baseball over the last couple of years. I prefer not to get too far into it and think pessimistically."

In the meantime, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit, who is 0-1 with 6.00 ERA in three appearances (two starts), will stay in Webb's place in the rotation.

"I expected yesterday to go better than it did," Melvin said. "[Dr. Lee] really wants to give him some time to lay off on this thing so three weeks seems like quite a bit of time. We'll go from there. After that, I have no idea."

Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.