Published: August 18, 2009 09:32 am      

Zambrano to face L’Kings in rehab start

CLINTON – The Clinton LumberKings will experience major-league pitching earlier than anticipated.

The Chicago Cubs have scheduled starter Carlos Zambrano to make a rehabilitation start Thursday at Peoria against Clinton. Zambrano, a three-time All-Star, will throw five innings or 75 pitches in his first game action since suffering recurring back spasms earlier this month.

“I think everyone's looking forward to it,” Clinton infielder Nate Tenbrink said. “This might be the only time some of us face a guy like that, so we need to take advantage of it.”

The news hit the LumberKings clubhouse after Sunday's loss to Cedar Rapids.

Players flipped the clubhouse televisions to ESPN, and shortly thereafter, the station's Bottom Line news ticker read: “Carlos Zambrano to make rehab start on Thursday at Class A Peoria.”

Wait a minute, several LumberKings said, isn't that when we're at Peoria?

“I looked at the schedule, and, yup, that's our first game there,” designated hitter Kris Sanchez said. “I'm sure we're a little more excited about it than he is.”

Major league clubs often send players recovering from injuries to the minors as a tune-up for their big-league return. Rehabbing players have strict regiments, such as a predetermined number of at-bats, pitches or innings.

Scripted outings can breed diluted intensity.

But Zambrano, a fiery competitor who throws with electric emotion, might prove otherwise.

“He's a different creature,” Clinton manager Scott Steinmann said. “That guy's going to be a beast no matter where he is.”

The Cubs scratched Zambrano 15 minutes before his last scheduled start Aug. 7 at Colorado due to back stiffness. Back issues also limited him to three innings against the Marlins on Aug. 1.

Zambrano threw a pain-free, 45-pitch bullpen session before Sunday's rainout at Wrigley Field. He will throw another session today.

“Remember, he hasn't pitched more than three innings in over three weeks,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters Sunday. “...So we have to be cautious with him.”

Barring any setbacks, the Cubs expect their ace to return Aug. 25 at Washington.

Zambrano has a 7-4 record and 3.35 ERA in 20 starts this season. He has won at least 13 games the past six seasons, finished in the top-five in Cy Young award voting three times and in 2008 became the first pitcher in major-league history to throw a neutral-site no-hitter.

“This is an opportunity to face one of the more dominant pitchers of the last decade,” Sanchez said.

Zambrano will return to the Midwest League for the first time in 10 years. In 1999, the then-18-year-old went 13-7 with a 4.17 ERA for the Lansing Lugnuts, who served as the Cubs' low Class A affiliate.

The LumberKings already had their hands full facing first-place Peoria in the midst of a playoff push.

Facing a big-league ace will certainly up the ante.

“It will be fun for our guys,” Steinmann said. “They'll get to test their abilities against major-league, all-star caliber pitching.”