Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano is expected to be ready to go when his time on the disabled list is up. And apparently, the injury that put him there – a bulging disk in his lower back – has been a problem for a long time.
Carlos Zambrano’s recurrent issues with that bulging disk in recent years apparently is more problematic than the pitcher has let on — so severe at times that he requires an annual epidural.
”I’ve been assured by doctors that there was no new damage,” general manager Jim Hendry said. ”He gets that epidural every year at some point. I fully expect him to be healthy the rest of the way once he gets back out there.”
Zambrano, who had his latest epidural over the weekend, is expected to be ready to rejoin the rotation about the time he’s eligible to return from the DL, possibly during the four-game weekend series in Los Angeles that starts next Thursday. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Zambrano is actually eligible to return as soon as the 17th, which is Monday, but because of the turn through the rotation, he may not start until the Dodger series.
The best news: Zambrano brings a .700+ OPS with him when he returns.