PHOENIX -- Brandon Webb's return has been delayed.

 

The right-hander experienced tightness in his right shoulder playing catch before a scheduled bullpen session on Friday and has been shut down.

 

Webb is scheduled to be examined by the team's doctor, Michael Lee, on Friday afternoon. He was placed on the disabled list on April 13, retroactive to April 7, because of the shoulder.

 

"He wants to come back, he wants to help the team," manager Bob Melvin said. "Everything to this point would suggest that he was on the right track. He had a little setback today, and a lot of times, those things happen during the course of being on the DL and coming back."

 

On Tuesday, Webb threw 33 pitches during a bullpen session, the first time he has taken the mound since being placed on the DL with shoulder stiffness following his Opening Day start. On Opening Day, Webb allowed six runs on six hits in four innings against Colorado. An MRI performed on April 10 showed no unusual structural damage.

 

"We didn't expect this today, and obviously, after his last bullpen, he felt good, and everything would suggest that he was progressing along," Melvin said. "He came out and played catch today and felt some tightness. He's a guy we are going to be careful with. We are not going to push him and see if he can throw through it. He's too important for us to try to push through something like that."

 

The Diamondbacks will wait for Lee's evaluation before setting a timetable for Webb's return.

 

"It will slow him down," Melvin said. "The next time out, we envisioned maybe another bullpen or throwing to some hitters, but we really don't know anything right now."

 

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This is a shame, he's such a talented pitcher and he wants it so bad but his body won't let him.