Matt Cain will return to Giants’ rotation Friday
By Hayden Kane
The San Francisco Giants are already sitting on top of the National League West. With a dominant 38-21 record, things have been going pretty darn well for them so far.
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Call it the rich potentially getting richer, as Matt Cain will make his return to the Giants’ starting rotation on Friday. Per Chris Haft of MLB.com:
"Cain, 29, has apparently recovered from a strained right hamstring, which he sustained May 21 when he pitched three hitless innings at Colorado. That injury forced him onto the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season."
The unexpected thing about San Francisco’s success this season has been the fact that they have not necessarily done it with pitching. Their offense has carried them for stretches. Cain is an example of that fact, as he has not overwhelmed anybody with his results so far, but he has been steady.
Through eight starts Cain has a 3.66 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 7.5 K/9 mark. One might glimpse that sub-4.00 ERA and think that Cain has been pretty darn good, but his 4.56 FIP (fielding independent pitching) indicates that he has been the beneficiary of some good luck as well.
After the Giants play the Reds in Cincinnati on Thursday, they come home for a 10 game home stand. Already sitting on a 7.5 game lead atop the NL West, they have an opportunity to get healthy and stretch things out before the Los Angeles Dodgers inevitably go on a winning streak this summer.
The way they have played so far, it would be hard to bet against the Giants as they prepare for a stretch of games at AT&T Park. Things just set up that much better for them with Cain back atop their rotation.