PHOENIX -- Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb will miss his
scheduled start Saturday with an inflamed elbow.
The Diamondbacks said they did not expect to put their ace on
the disabled list. Webb reported soreness in the elbow after facing
the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. An MRI exam showed no structural
damage.
"He's obviously a guy we can't be too careful with," manager
Bob Melvin said before the Diamondbacks opened a three-game series
against Houston on Friday night. "He wants to pitch and feels like
he can, but as long as there's some soreness in there we're just
going to go the extra yard and make sure he's healthy."
Webb's only stint on the disabled list, from May 24-June 7,
2003, was due to right elbow tendinitis. But head trainer Ken
Crenshaw expressed confidence that Webb won't have to go on the
disabled list this time.
"We're just going to monitor it day to day to see how he
progresses," Crenshaw said. "I think he'll be fine."
Webb, 12-4 with a 2.74 ERA, is among the leading NL Cy Young
Award candidates. His 167 1-3 innings pitched leads the league, and
his 12 victories and two shutouts are tied for most in the NL.
Right-hander Dustin Nippert, 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA, will start
Saturday night against the Astros, Melvin said. Nippert has been
pitching for Triple-A Tucson. The club will make a roster move to
open a spot for Nippert before Saturday's game.