AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Brandon Webb became the fourth pitcher in major league history to start 8-0 in two different seasons.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Webb is the first pitcher since Jon Garland in 2005 to win his first eight starts, and the first NL hurler to do it since Pedro Martinez labored for the Montreal Expos in 1997. The Phillies were helpless against Webb's sinker yesterday, pounding the ball into the ground with ludicrous regularity. They needed a passed ball in the first inning to score their only run while the game was competitive, whereupon Webb didn't give up another hit until the sixth inning. His seven strikeouts combined in his two most recent starts don't prick up your fantasy ears much, but he walked no one yesterday, has allowed just two homers in 56 innings, and hasn't failed to go six innings yet this year.
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Webb's stuff is relatively slump-proof. He's never pitched a big-league season in which his groundball rate was lower than 61.8 percent, and his HR/9 has never been above 0.83. Does he occasionally give you a game with too many walks? He does. But because he gives up so few homers (his fly ball rate in '07 was 19.7 percent, and his HR/fly ball was 8.8 percent) and induces so many double plays, they don't often kill him. No, he doesn't strike out hitters the way Peavy or Santana do, which is why I still rank him third. But there's something to be said for a less-scary downside on a start-to-start basis, and you could argue Webb gives you that. He certainly did Thursday against the Phillies, when 18 of his 27 outs came on grounders.
• Past editions: 5/8: Votto for three | 5/7: Floyd's near no-no | 5/6: Tigers shuffle lineup
Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals
The 29-year-old outfielder continued his hot hitting, blasting two more homers to raise his average to .363. Ludwick is 10-for-15 with three homers and six RBIs in his past five games. He's blistering right-handers to the tune of a .423 average this season.
Shawn Camp, Blue Jays
After starting the season with six straight scoreless performances, Camp was lit up for five runs on four hits in the 13th inning against the Rays. It was just the fourth time in his 203 career appearances he's allowed more than three earned runs.
• The Nationals also made a pair of moves at the same position yesterday, putting both Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada on the DL. Lo Duca just came off the DL with a hand injury, and when he fouled off a Roy Oswalt pitch Wednesday he felt a sharp pain; an MRI revealed a broken bone in his hand. Meanwhile, Estrada's elbow has bothered him all year. Jesus Flores will continue his seesaw and come back to the bigs, and play ahead of Wil Nieves most days.
• The Rangers designated first baseman Ben Broussard for assignment, so Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton are likely to platoon at first for Texas going forward. It's possible, however, that this could be a precursor to Jarrod Saltalamacchia seeing more time at first base on days he doesn't catch.
• The Pirates acquired Jason Michaels from the Indians for a player to be named later. Michaels doesn't figure to play very much, especially with Jason Bay, Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth hitting so well.
• Ian Stewart drilled two homers Wednesday for Triple-A Colorado Springs, breaking an 0-for-27 slump. He also registered six RBIs. Stewart is currently third in the Pacific Coast League in homers (nine) and RBIs (29). Stewart's path is, as ever, completely blocked by Garrett Atkins at third base. But he's still one of the majors' best minor-league hitting prospects, and will eventually either get dealt or get his position changed.