Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

The New York Post has learned that Brandon Webb will start the All-Star Game for the NL. Voted in as starters were C Geovany Soto, 1B Lance Berkman, 2B Chase Utley, 3B Chipper Jones, SS Hanley Ramirez, OF Alfonso Soriano, OF Kosuke Fukudome and OF Ryan Braun. Webb is something of a surprising choice to start given his recent struggles, but he’s still as deserving of the honor as anyone. Also likely considered were Edinson Volquez, Ben Sheets and Tim Lincecum. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb will make his next scheduled start on Tuesday in order to get two more turns before the All-Star break, the East Valley Tribune reports. He’s also expected to start for the NL All-Stars on July 15, but owners in weekly leagues should be particularly happy about manager Bob Melvin’s scheduling decision. (Rotowire)

Brandon Webb was charged with five runs in six innings Thursday in a no-decision versus the Brewers. Webb was quite unlucky in the game. The two second-inning runs scored on a wild pitch that should have been handled — and almost certainly would have been with Chris Snyder, not Robby Hammock, behind the plate — and on a grounder that Mark Reynolds bobbled. Webb later allowed a two-run homer to Mike Cameron in the sixth that appeared to be foul. It clearly passed on the wrong side of the foul pole, but there is a chance if might have grazed the pole. Webb wasn’t great today, but he was better than the line suggests. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb allowed two runs in six innings and struck out eight in a victory over the Marlins on Saturday. Perhaps it’s progress, but Webb doesn’t typically throw 110 pitches in six innings when he’s going well. He did match his season high for strikeouts in his first victory in four starts. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb gave up five runs — four earned — all in one inning as the Twins topped the Diamondbacks 5-3 on Sunday. Webb gave up eight hits and a walk while striking out four. His problem was that five of the eight hits, and an error, allowed for five runs in the fifth inning. The 2006 NL Cy Young winner started the season 9-0, but is 2-4 with a 4.64 ERA since. He has allowed 14 earned runs in his last three starts. Webb is going through a bit of a rough stretch right now, but there is no need to bail on him in Fantasy. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brandon Webb said extension talks with the Diamondbacks, which have been going off and on since the spring, have ended for now. “I’m done talking about it,” Webb said. “It’s gone on for five months, so I’m tired of it. It’s been off and on, but just to have something keep going on and on and on for months, it does kind of wear on you a little bit, and to have it done and over with for right now, it’s good to get that off my mind.” A three-year extension was discussed. The Diamondbacks already have the right-hander under control through 2010. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb was roughed up by the A’s on Tuesday, allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss. Mark Ellis hit two home runs to lead a six-homer barrage as the Oakland Athletics routed Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-1. It was Webb’s (11-3) shortest outing since Sept. 17, 2004, when he went 2 innings at St. Louis. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs and nine hits. He struck out three and walked five.

Webb had won his previous two decisions before Tuesday’s lambasting at the hands of the A’s. While it is obvious that this won’t be a recurring them for the ace, Webb has failed to go longer than five innings in his previous two starts. In his two starts prior to that, however, he went a combined 16 innings giving up just one earned run. That sounds more like the Webb you can expect to see on a regular basis and the one that should be starting in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

Webb can pitch with diminished velocity, but he also didn’t have any command tonight. He walked five (one intentional) and allowed two homers for the first time this season. A performance this bad can be taken as an indication that he’s dealing with something more than a dead arm. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb said that his hip felt fine after being hit by a Carlos Delgado line drive. Webb has a bruise, and says his hip is sore to the touch, but that it hasn’t hurt since he was hit. He also said that his arm doesn’t hurt, despite his decreased velocity, and reiterated that he might be going through a dead arm period. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb was dominating early, but left the game after throwing just 58 pitches and allowing three runs over five innings. Webb was struck by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Delgado in the Mets’ three-run fourth inning, which may have had something to do with his early exit. He was removed for a pinch-hitter leading off the sixth, and Max Scherzer replaced him in the bottom of the inning.

Webb (hip) is expected to make his next scheduled start on Tuesday after being hit by a line drive in Wednesday’s game against the Mets, the Arizona Republic reports. After seeing his velocity drop during his start against the Braves in late May, Webb has seen it return slowly over his last few starts. “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt,” Webb said. “Maybe a dead-arm period or something like that. Like I said, it doesn’t hurt, so it’s tough to tell. Everything feels good.”

Manager Bob Melvin said afterward that he “just wanted to give him a little blow.” Webb’s fastball was clocked at 85-89 mph Wednesday and his next scheduled start will come Tuesday against the A’s.The D-Backs are optimistic that the extra day afforded to Webb with a break in the schedule on Monday should help him get the extra rest needed to rid himself of the limited velocity. It sounds like he’s going be OK, but his next couple of starts are definitely worth watching closely. (Rotowire)

Brandon Webb allowed three runs over 7 1/3 innings against the Rockies on Thursday night, improving to 9-0 in Arizona’s 8-5 victory. Webb faced just one batter over the minimum during the first five innings, getting all of his outs with grounders and strikeouts, and meanwhile the Diamondbacks jumped out to a big lead. The Rockies offense started to come on in the late innings, and actually gave the D-Backs a scare in the ninth when they rallied and eventually got Matt Holliday to the plate representing the tying run, but Brandon Lyon squirmed out of a sticky situation to seal an Arizona victory. Backed by Stephen Drew’s career-high four hits, Webb became the major leagues’ first nine-game winner when the Diamondbacks defeated the Rockies 8-5 Thursday. Webb (9-0) has won his first nine starts, the most since San Diego’s Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Webb has won 11 straight starts dating to last September. Whether he has been perfect or not in 2008, Webb has kept Arizona in every game he has pitched and they have supplied enough offense to make him a nine-game winner. Webb held Colorado scoreless for six innings Thursday and continues to look dominant on the hill. His next scheduled start is for Wednesday at Florida. Webb won his lone start against the Marlins last season as he pitched seven scoreless innings. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brandon Webb held the Phillies to three runs — two earned — in a complete-game victory Thursday, improving to 8-0. Webb got into the ninth inning having allowed just an unearned run, but then ran out of steam a bit, prompting a mound visit from manager Bob Melvin. With a low pitch count and plenty of run support — including homers from Chris Young and Justin Upton — Webb was allowed to finish up an 8-3 win. He got 18 ground ball outs and another four via strikeout, walking zero batters while slicing his ERA to 2.41. The last NL pitcher to win his first eight starts of the season was Pedro Martinez for the Expos back in 1997. (Rotoworld)

The Diamondbacks and ace Brandon Webb have resumed talks on a long-term contract, and the Arizona Republic reports that the sides are getting closer to a deal. “Yeah, some progress has been made,” Webb said. “We’ve been talking a little bit more. We’ve made some headway. We’ll see where it goes.” Wood is signed through 2009 with a 2010 option. A new deal would likely go three or four years beyond 2010. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb became the first pitcher to reach seven wins though he wasn’t his normal self, allowing four earned runs over six innings. The Diamondbacks’ offense really had Webb’s back today with a 10-run performance, none of which came on homers. Webb struck out three and walked two. On the day he was selected NL pitcher of the month for April, Webb went six innings, allowing a season-high four runs. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out three, earning his seventh win. Webb said he lacked his best stuff, but it was enough to keep the Mets in check. New York put five runners on in the first three innings but managed to push only one across. “He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball, and you’ve got to try and jump on him when you can,” New York manager Willie Randolph said. “We had some opportunities early and let them slip away, and when you do that, you have a chance to lose the game.” You have to love anybody who pitches for the hot-hitting Diamondbacks right now, but when that somebody won the NL Cy Young two years ago and just missed last year, you obviously have one of the top starters in Fantasy Baseball. Even when Webb doesn’t pitch great, like Saturday, he still has a chance to win. Keep him active through thick and thin. His next start is scheduled for Thursday against the Phillies. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brandon Webb became the first pitcher to reach six wins this season by holding the Padres to just an unearned run in six innings of work on Sunday. Webb gave up five hits and walked four, but he also struck out five and induced 10 ground ball outs. Juan Cruz, Tony Pena, and Brandon Lyon then each threw a scoreless inning to protect a 2-1 lead. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb surrendered three runs over six innings against the Giants to become the majors’ first five-game winner on Tuesday. Webb was down 3-0 entering the bottom of the second, but he shut the Giants down from there and contributed to his cause with a two-run double. It was his sixth career extra-base hit in 332 at-bats. He already has four RBI on the season, matching the second-highest total of his career. He drove in three runs in 73 at-bats last season. The Giants managed to pick up nine hits, but Webb scattered them and limited the damage. With the offense showing signs of improvement over last season, Webb is well on his way to winning 20-plus game for the D-Backs this season. Webb, off to the best start of his career, beat San Francisco’s Barry Zito (0-5) for the second time in six days. Webb’s five victories match the total of the Giants’ rotation.

Webb might have fell behind early Tuesday, but like a true Cy Young candidate, he battled back and moved to 5-0. He has allowed a total of nine earned runs through his first 35 innings. He is doing some of the best work of his career and could win 20 games for the first time in his career. Need any more reasons to start him in all Fantasy formats? Webb will look for win No. 6 Sunday against the Padres at Petco Park. In three road starts this season, Webb is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA. He was 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts against the Padres last season and was 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA at Petco.(Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)