Brandon Webb has been scratched from his scheduled rehab outing with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday due to shoulder discomfort.

The beat goes on. Webb is approaching Mark Prior levels of inability to return from injury, and the odds that he throws a major-league pitch in 2011 are just about zero. There's a very good chance he'll never make another big-league appearance.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) said he "pretty good" Monday, despite allowing four runs on six hits over two-thirds of an inning during his most recent minor league rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

"I don't think it is a step back in the way I felt or anything like that," said Webb. "I had pretty good stuff. I didn't really get the work in that I really needed." Webb said he touched 87 mph in the first inning and felt even better in the bullpen following the abbreviated outing. Still, obviously he needs to do better moving forward.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) allowed six hits and four runs in two-thirds of an inning in his next rehab start on Sunday for Double-A Frisco.

Ouch. Webb threw three scoreless innings Tuesday for Frisco and was pleased with his stuff, but five days later he was torched. The former Cy Young winner is a long ways away from contributing with the Rangers.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) will make his next rehab start on Sunday for Double-A Frisco.

Webb threw three scoreless innings Tuesday for Frisco and was really pleased with his stuff and how he felt. "I felt great, like three years ago," Webb told his agent, Jonathan Mauer. "I could have got big league hitters out today." The former Cy Young winner is still a long ways away from contributing with the Rangers.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) will resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

He's expected to throw 60-70 pitches. Webb was shut down early this month after experiencing more soreness in his surgically-repaired shoulder. He threw a bullpen session Friday without any issues, so hopefully he can get back on track, but obviously that's anything but a safe bet.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Friday.

It appears to have gone off without a hitch. However, according to Rangers beat writer Evan Grant, "there are no solid plans on when (Webb) will again attempt to pitch in a game." The former Cy Young award winner is not worth stashing in any format.

Brandon Webb has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to renewed shoulder inflammation.

Webb has been prescribed anti-inflammatories and won't be allowed to resume his minor league rehab assignment for another seven days. He was torched for five runs during a three-inning start on Monday at Double-A Frisco and remains a long way from returning to the major leagues. The 32-year-old hasn't taken a big league mound since the first game of the 2009 season.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) allowed five runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings Monday in his first minor league rehab start with Double-A Frisco.

It was his first professional start since Opening Day of the 2009 season. Webb struck out two, walked two and hit a batter while throwing 47 out of 77 pitches for strikes. He topped out at 85 mph in a 32-pitch first inning, but mostly sat around 83-84 mph. While Webb got more comfortable as the outing continued, he obviously has some work to do.

Coming off of a successful 80-pitch bullpen session on Friday, Brandon Webb (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Double-A Frisco on Monday.

It will be the first professional appearance of any sort, rehab or otherwise, Webb has made since 2009 if he does not suffer a setback between now and Monday. He will be on a strict pitch count, and likely limited to four or five innings of work. It's still far too early in the process to forecast when Webb might be able to join the Rangers, but if things go well on Monday, there might finally be some real light at the end of the tunnel.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab start Monday at Double-A Frisco.

Webb first needs to make it through his Friday bullpen session with good results. He's shown improved velocity in recent workouts but is still far from ready to face major league hitters in a live setting.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) allowed four runs (one earned) over seven innings Tuesday in a start in extended spring training.

Webb also struck out five, walked none and hit two batters. He only hit about 84 mph on the radar gun, but the encouraging part is that it was the longest outing he has made during his rehabilitation process. One wonders if an official minor league rehab assignment will come next.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) tossed four innings Thursday in an extended spring training game.

Webb told reporters after the outing that he hit 86 MPH with his fastball a couple of times, which would represent a major improvement over the 81 MPH heaters he was hurling last time out. He's scheduled to make a five-inning start Tuesday.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) is no longer on the schedule for future extended spring training starts.

The Rangers will pull Webb back from live action and have him work on his mechanics in bullpen sessions instead. He topped out at just 81 MPH with his fastball last time out and is nowhere near a return to the majors.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) allowed two unearned runs on two hits over three innings in a start at extended spring training Saturday.

Though he felt fine physically, Webb topped out only at 81 mph with his fastball. The Rangers will obviously be hoping his velocity increases as he gets more work, as he doesn't appear close to being ready to retire major league hitters. His timetable is still completely up in the air.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) threw two scoreless innings Monday in an extended spring training game.

Webb only needed 16 pitches to get through the easy outing. He topped out at just 84 MPH, however, and is still a long way from returning to the major leagues. Webb averaged 88 MPH with his fastball in 2008.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) will throw 35 pitches in an extended spring training game Monday.

"It's the biggest step so far," Webb said earlier about the session. He threw long-toss Friday with no issues, and, at least at the moment, the arrow is pointing up for him. He's obviously got a long ways to go, though.

Updating a previous item, Brandon Webb (shoulder) will travel to Arizona to begin pitching in extended spring training games.

"It's the biggest step so far," said Webb, who threw long-toss Friday with no issues. "It will be more intense than what I've had to so far, so that will be good I think to crank the intensity up. That should help me." Webb believes he'll make a few outings before being reevaluated.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) is willing to relieve.

"I would do it," Webb said. "I would rather start but if it's a chance to relieve, I'd do it." Webb is still at least 4-6 weeks away from returning to the Rangers. He threw 72 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday and will next make one or two extended spring training starts. Webb isn't worth a spot on mixed league rosters right now.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) threw 72 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday.

Webb will travel to Arizona on Monday for one or two extended spring training starts. The Rangers are hoping to get him back sometime in May, but fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on the brittle Webb.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) threw 64 pitches in a bullpen session Friday.

Webb was disappointed with his bullpen session Monday, but said that he has made gains over his past two sessions. He's scheduled to throw again next Monday. It's worth tracking his progress, but we're not holding our breath for his debut in a Rangers' uniform.