Zito to start Wednesday

ANAHEIM — Barry Zito’s first start for Oakland in nine years came with a lot of hype and hoopla. His second will be much mellower, on the road — and in Zito’s native Southern California, a two-hour drive from where he grew up in San Diego.

The left-hander will start against the Angels on Wednesday in place of Sonny Gray, who was shut down for the remainder of the season, as expected, with left hip soreness.

Zito will be going on just three days’ rest after his matchup with fellow Big Three member Tim Hudson on Saturday. No matter: There’s no putting anything past a man who keeps defying expectations — he wasn’t supposed to be called up at all after Triple-A Nashville season’s ended, he wasn’t supposed to start once he did get called up.

So manager Bob Melvin won’t be surprised if Zito exceeds his anticipated pitch count. Melvin figures on maybe 65-70 pitches for Zito after he threw 48 Saturday.

“He’s a pretty motivated guy,” Melvin said. “I think he couldn’t care less about pitch count, one day’s rest, two days. He’s just eager to get another start. … You kind of throw rest and pitch counts out with a guy like that.

“I asked him if he was up for it … and he was very up for it.”

Melvin thought Zito pitched better than the numbers indicated Saturday; the Giants’ first two hits were well-placed grounders, and the only balls really hit hard were Marlon Byrd’s two-run double and Jarrett Parker’s first homer.

“I was impressed,” Melvin said.

Gray, an All-Star, left his start Friday with hip tightness and the hip was still sore Sunday. “We don’t want to push it,” Melvin said. “We have so many guys on the disabled list right now and he was kind of the Last of the Mohicans as far as the starters. It just doesn’t make sense with one more start to push him.” Muncy to Mexico: Third baseman Max Muncy said he’ll play for Guadalajara in the Mexican winter league this offseason — and his plan is to learn to play second base and the outfield while there; he already plays first. A’s minor-league instructor Juan Navarette will be Guadalajara’s manager.