Buster Posey probably won't catch Tim Lincecum in playoffs

Bruce Bochy hasn't revealed his entire hand when it comes to planning for the San Francisco Giants playoff run, but one thing that looks apparent is that Buster Posey will not be catching Tim Lincecum.

Posey, who took over the batting title lead over Andrew McCutchen, is having a stellar year and is hardly a bat that Bochy can afford to place on the bench. But the manager of the Giants also needs Lincecum to be vintage Lincecum in October, not Lincecum of 2012. With Sanchez starting, Posey will most likely replace Brandon Belt at first base.

CSN Bay Area reports Bochy confirmed that Hector Sanchez will catch Lincecum's start on Sunday because he favors how Lincecum has pitched in the second half.

The two time NL Cy Young Award winner is having the worst seasons of his career. But things have improved in the second half of the season after an atrocious start. Lincecum is 7-4 with a 3.06 ERA in 13 starts after the break. He had rattled off four straight quality starts in September before giving up seven runs in four innings to the Diamondbacks on Sept. 25. Lincecum is 10-15 with a 5.15 ERA and 186 strikeouts on the year.

Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner will most likely start Games 1 and 2 for the Giants, and it remains to be seen who will start the third game.