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Turning back the clock: Zito to oppose Hudson on Saturday in Oakland

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Bay Area baseball fans are in for a throwback treat this weekend.

The Oakland Athletics have confirmed that veteran Barry Zito will start Saturday opposite San Francisco Giants righty Tim Hudson at O.co Coliseum.

The aging hurlers both began their careers in Oakland, and thrived as teammates from 2000-04. Hudson, 40, has announced he'll retire this fall, while Zito, 37, was just recalled from Triple-A Nashville after toiling in the minors, waiting for one last shot at big-league glory.

"It will be absolutely a terrific day, with Hudson pitching on the other side," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "Really and truly (Zito) deserves it, based on what he did this year at Triple-A and what he's meant for this organization, to get him out here one more time in our ballpark against the Giants, with our fan base, their fan base and Tim Hudson on the mound, it's going to be a very exciting day."

Both pitchers also have history with the Giants. Hudson, who is playing in just his second season in San Francisco, was part of last year's championship squad, while Zito made three crucial postseason starts during the 2012 title run.

HUDSON VS. ZITO

PLAYER IP W-L ERA SO
Hudson 3123 222-132 3.48 2079
Zito 2570.2 165-143 4.03 1883

"It's definitely going to be rowdy out here," Zito added. "It's going to be a really great experience. ... It's going to be awesome, the fans deserve something like that, some closure from those years, all the fun we've had."

The Athletics will appropriately be honoring their Big Three from the early 2000s - Mark Mulder, Zito, and Hudson - prior to Saturday's contest, and the three hurlers will throw the ceremonial first pitch in tandem Sunday prior to Oakland's final home game.

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