WEST SACRAMENTO — The plan all along was for starter Johnny Cueto to return from Tommy John surgery and pitch in a playoff race.
Cueto will take the mound on Monday night with a chance to clinch a division title, but he won’t be doing it for the San Francisco Giants.
The right-hander will instead spend his fifth rehab start attempting to lock up the Pacific Northern division crown for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.
“Probably 110 to 120 pitches…or nine innings, whichever comes first” Sacramento manager Dave Brundage said with a laugh.
In the hitter’s paradise known as the Pacific Coast League, who can blame Brundage for dreaming?