SAN FRANCISCO–Giants’ right-hander Matt Cain is headed back to the bullpen.
The 13th-year veteran will not make his scheduled start on Saturday evening against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and will instead be replaced by rookie Chris Stratton.
“We’re going to start Stratton on Saturday,” Bochy said prior to Thursday evening’s game.
Cain began the 2017 season as the Giants’ fifth starter, but was moved to the bullpen prior to the All-Star break when San Francisco anticipated lefty Madison Bumgarner to return from an extended stint on the disabled list. Shortly after Bumgarner returned, though, Cain found himself back in the Giants’ rotation as Johnny Cueto was placed on the disabled list with blisters.
Cain made three starts in place of Cueto, including one on Monday evening in Oakland, but on Thursday afternoon, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy announced that Stratton will take Cain’s spot in the rotation.
“That’s part of it (giving prospects an opportunity), sure, to be honest, Matty, he’s been so good through moving him around a little bit,” Bochy said. “We’ll give Stratton a chance to show what he can do.”
Stratton is currently on the disabled list with a calf injury, but is eligible to be activated on Saturday, when he’ll make his second start of the season.
The 26-year-old Stratton was the Giants’ first round draft choice out of Mississippi State in 2012, and has allowed 12 earned runs in 14 innings this season.
Bochy said that San Francisco hopes to keep Stratton in the rotation past Saturday, and that he believes Stratton has what it takes to be a fourth or fifth starter in the Major Leagues.
“He’s (Stratton) a four-pitch guy,” Bochy said. “He’s got pretty good velo, he’ll be in the low 90s when his command is sharp he works up and down very well. He’s got a good curveball, slider, change, he’s got the equipment to be a four or five starter.”