What is it with all these presumed aces getting roughed up their season debuts? The experts generally say that pitchers are ahead of hitters early in the season, but that hasn’t been the case for the likes of two reigning Cy Young Award winners, Cliff Lee of the Indians and Tim Lincecum of the Giants, along with the two second-place finishers from last year, the Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay and Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks.

Only Halladay won his opening start, and he allowed five runs in seven innings against Detroit; Lee allowed seven runs in a loss to the Rangers; Lincecum lasted just three innings and three runs and three walks to the Brewers but got a no-decision; and Webb, Mr. Consistency, allowed six runs and six hits in a no-decision against the Rockies.

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The biggest concern of those four definitely was Webb, who is arguably the most underhyped star pitcher in baseball. The right-hander complained of shoulder stiffness during the game against Colorado on Monday, and his velocity dropped throughout the game. If he were to experience any major injury, the Diamondbacks would be dead in the water in the NL West.

But it appears Webb will make his next start Saturday against the Dodgers after he played catch Tuesday and reported no problems. “It’s great,” this according to the Associated Press.

Webb said his shoulder was a little tight as he was warming up Monday but that it felt good during the first three innings. His fastball in those innings topped out at his customary 89 mph (Webb relies on his sinker, not his fastball, to get hitters out).

In the fourth his velocity dropped about 5 mph, but he chalked that up to the Diamondbacks having a long at-bat in the bottom of the third.

"You try to keep [the shoulder] loose as best as you can," Webb told the Arizona Republic. "Sometimes you can do it. Sometimes you can't.”

Webb opened last season 10-0 en route to a major-league-best 22 victories. He did have a late-season stretch where he allowed 22 hits and 21 runs (19 earned) in 13 2/3 innings for a 12.57 ERA, but he finished the season winning three of his final four starts.

As for Saturday’s start against the Dodgers, Webb didn’t have much success against Big Blue last year. He was just 1-2 in four starts with an ERA of 5.40. Webb walked more Dodgers than any other batting order last year and allowed more hits, runs and homers against L.A. than against any other club, too.

The point I’m trying to make?

Los Angeles, with Randy Wolf expected to start, is worth an investment as an approximate +140 dog on Saturday.