Matt Cain lasted only 11 outs before landing back on the disabled list. The Giants announced minutes before Tuesday’s game that Cain reaggravated his right hamstring in Monday’s start, and right-hander Chris Stratton is back on the active roster.
In his first start since May 27, Cain walked five Brewers in 3.1 innings, running his pitch count up to 83 before Bruce Bochy pulled him. After the game, Cain told reporters he could extend on the mound “for the most part,” but that he needed more repetitions. That won’t happen for awhile now. The issue first sprouted in that May 27 start against the Rockies, coming up lame on his 26th pitch of the afternoon. After landing on the DL, he never worked through a minor-league start, instead opting for a simulated game before returning to start Monday. Bochy had the option to give Cain more time and start Albert Suarez for a third time, but was assured of Cain’s health.
Now Suarez will presumably rejoin the starting rotation, a night after pitching 3.1 innings of his own after Cain departed Monday’s game. Suarez is in line to start Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. Stratton will presumably become the de facto long man in the bullpen.
