Carlos Zambrano Returns Tonight To San Francisco's Playoff Hunt

Tonight's San Francisco Giants' game against the Chicago Cubs is of great interest with the Giants just a half game up in the race for the National League Wild Card.

The team from Chicago, which hasn't won the World Championship since 1908, will be starting Carlos Zambrano.

Zambrano, once ranked among the top pitchers in the National League, has fallen on hard times. As recently as 2007, Carlos was an 18-game winner, but this season, he has been suspended for three games, placed on the restricted list, and has worked out of the bullpen.

To say that Carlos has a temper is like saying that a fat kid doesn't like food, but Cubs' manager Lou Piniella, who has had his moments, thinks that Carlos can regain his form.

"He threw the ball well. He let it go—he was throwing 92, 93 mph, and he was competing really well. Let's see what we see [Monday] night. I'm expecting him to pitch well."

The Giants are back home after splitting a pair of games in Denver, and then dropping three out of four in Atlanta.

The San Diego Padres lead the Giants by two games (three in the loss column), while having the lead in the Wild Card race.

The Padres come to town on Friday to open a three game set, after which the Giants head east for three games against the Phillies, who should have some their walking wounded back.

Then it's to St. Louis Cardinals for three against the Cardinals, who are another wild card challenger, but a challenger who might be in first place by the time the Giants play them.

The series against the Braves once again confirmed that the Giants are an offensively challenged team. They scored only eight runs in the four games, and needed some sloppy play by the Braves' defense to escape with one victory.

After yesterday's 5-3 loss, Jonathan Sanchez, who left after working only four innings and allowing four runs, three walks, and two home runs, was emotional.

"We're going to play San Diego now and we're going to beat them three times."

Jonathan was well aware that the teams have played each other eight times, with the Padres winning seven.

A situation that has added to the offensive woes is that the Giants are carrying 13 pitchers. In yesterday's loss, Matt Cain pinch hit in the fifth inning.

Matt is batting .093, and has a .112 lifetime batting average.

Manager Bruce Bochy told the media that he and general manager Brian Sabean were going to discuss the situation, but then Bochy reverted to form.

He said the Giants' controlled their own fate. Worrying about getting another hitter "...takes away from your focus of what we need to do."

The Giants should be in the races until the end because their pitching is strong enough to keep them in contention.

Bochy and Sabean might be gambling (excuse the expression) that they will make the playoffs, and that once there, the Giants' pitching makes them a major threat.

The problem is that the Braves have solid pitching, the Cardinals have Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainright, and a seemingly rejuvenated Jake Westbrook, the Phillies have Cole Hamels and a pair of Roys, and the Cincinnati Reds, besides some young pitchers, have solid hitting.

Bochy and Sabean better add a bat.

Reference:

San Francisco Giants News