Webb Battles Braves
Brandon Webb hasn’t needed to bounce back from a losing decision since early September.
On Monday afternoon, however, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ace will try to do that while looking to help his team secure a winning series in the finale of a four-game set against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Arizona -120 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 79% of bets for this game have been placed on Arizona –120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Webb (9-1, 2.69 ERA) fell short of becoming only the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts after allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings of a 3-1 loss at Florida on Wednesday. The right-hander is 13-1 with a 2.98 ERA in his last 15 starts since his previous loss, a 4-3 defeat to Colorado on Sept. 2.
"I’m not going to go 33-, 34-0 probably," Webb said. "It was going to happen sometime. I’m just going to have to go out and try to get to 10-1."
Webb has a good chance against Atlanta, a team he is 2-1 against with a 1.17 ERA in five career starts. He may also catch a break if the Braves’ Chipper Jones isn’t in the lineup again Monday.
Jones, hitting a major league-best .417, is questionable after missing Atlanta’s 9-3 loss on Sunday due to back pain he felt while playing with his children Saturday night. Jones has hit safely in all but six of his 46 games and is 4-for-13 with a double lifetime against Webb.
He missed two games at the New York Mets on April 26-27 with back spasms.
"Hopefully, he’s only out (one) game," second baseman Kelly Johnson told the Braves’ official Web site. "We need his bat in the lineup."
Sunday’s loss was just the second in eight contests for the Braves (27-23), who entered this series on a five-game winning streak.
Eric Byrnes hit his first career grand slam, Chris Young added a leadoff homer and two RBIs, and Orlando Hudson had three doubles Sunday for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks (30-20), who have outscored Atlanta 21-7 in winning two of the first three in the series. Arizona totaled just three runs while being swept in a three-game set at Florida prior to visiting Atlanta.
Byrnes and Young, who were both held hitless in a 3-1 loss Saturday, each homered and combined for five RBIs in Arizona’s 11-1 win over the Braves on Friday.
Omar Infante and Yunel Escobar each had an RBI on Sunday for the Braves, who recorded just six hits.
Escobar, batting .307 on the season, has a hit and RBI in each of the last two games after going 0-for-4 on Friday. He is 10-for-28 with six RBIs in his last seven contests overall.
Jair Jurrjens (5-3, 2.64) looks to build off a strong outing for the Braves. The rookie allowed an earned run and five hits in seven innings of an 11-4 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his past five starts.
"The way he’s pitching is unbelievable," Atlanta right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "We feel confident every time he goes out there."
Jurrjens has never faced Arizona in his career.
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