I, too, have been a proponent of seeing Zito get a chance to pitch in a big league game again, and I also think A's fans deserve to have something like that to be excited about amid a mostly disappointing season. But, at this point, the odds don't look good for Zito's return. He still remains on the Minor League disabled list and, even if healthy, the A's would have to add him to the 40-man roster when promoting him. They're more inclined to do that with a player they feel could serve a greater need.
Some of the pitchers you see on the 40-man who are currently in Triple-A -- among them Dan Otero, R.