SAN FRANCISCO >> Left-hander Barry Zito will start the World Series opener for the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday he will go with Zito, who has resurrected his career this year. Zito’s stellar outing in a 5-0 victory on Friday night in Game 5 of the NL championship series at Busch Stadium helped San Francisco rally from a 3-1 series deficit against the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals to return to the World Series for the second time in three years.

The Giants have won Zito’s last 13 starts dating to Aug. 7. The $126 million pitcher was left off all three rounds of the 2010 postseason when San Francisco won the franchise’s first championship since moving West in 1958.