The San Francisco Giants begin their playoff run on Saturday when they face the Cincinnati Reds for Game 1 of the NLDS. The Reds have home-field advantage, but the first two games will be played in San Francisco before the series moves to Cincinnati.
Matt Cain takes the mound for the Giants coming off an excellent regular season. Cain went 16-5 with a 2.79 ERA for the year, posting 193 strikeouts in 219⅓ innings pitched. He was limited to just 68 pitches in his last start, going five innings and allowing two runs against the Dodgers. Cain faced the Reds twice in 2012, losing both starts and giving up eight runs in 13 innings.
The Reds counter with Johnny Cueto. The right-hander went 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA. He was strong last time out, tossing seven innings against the Pirates while allowing just one earned run. Cueto had one start against the Giants in the regular season, going six innings in a loss.
Veteran Scott Rolen has been given the nod over rookie Todd Frazier at third base for the Reds. Rolen had a .716 OPS on the year, while Frazier was at .829.
Full lineups for both teams:
Giants
1. Angel Pagan CF
2. Marco Scutaro 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Buster Posey C
5. Hunter Pence RF
6. Brandon Belt 1B
7. Gregor Blanco LF
8. Brandon Crawford SS
9. Matt Cain P
Reds
1. Brandon Phillips 2B
2. Zack Cozart SS
3. Joey Votto 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick LF
5. Jay Bruce RF
6. Scott Rolen 3B
7. Ryan Hanigan C
8. Drew Stubbs CF
9. Johnny Cueto RHP