Major League Baseball

Report: Zito booted from rotation

Published Aug. 3, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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The San Francisco Giants have removed struggling left-hander Barry Zito from their rotation, according to MLB.com. And it is Zito who made that suggestion to manager Bruce Bochy after he failed to last four innings his most recent start.

"I came into his office after I pitched and I said I'm hurting the bullpen by not going six, seven innings. … I told him I'm not getting down on myself or losing confidence or desire or inspiration,” Zito told MLB.com.

In 21 starts this season, Zito is 4-8 with a 5.09 ERA. He has allowed 141 hits in just 111 1/3 innings, and he is winless in his past 10 starts (dating back to June 5). It is a dramatic turnaround after Zito's strong late-season and postseason performance in 2012.

Zito has pitched in 421 games in his major league career, starting 415 of them. Four of those relief outings came during the 2011 season when he posted a 5.87 ERA. He is in the final guaranteed year of a seven-year, $126 million contract, which includes an $18 million team option for next season and a $7 million buyout.

Righthander Guillermo Moscoso will take Zito’s place in the rotation and will start Sunday. However, Moscoso’s stay in the starting five could be brief because right-hander Ryan Vogelsong is expected to come off the disabled list and rejoin the rotation next week.

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