Matt Cain takes the mound for the Giants in game two of the best-of-five series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Cain comes in after Tim Lincecum pitched one of the better performances in his career, in Giants history, and in MLB postseason history, and whether we really remember it as such will likely be determined by the result of the series as a whole. So, again, enter Matt Cain.
Cain finished the regular season at 13-11 with an ERA of 3.14 and appeared to be the Giants best pitcher going into a potential playoff-clinching game against the Padres in his last start of the season, but didn't survive the contest in good form, getting taken for six runs in four innings. Cain is 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts against the Braves.
Tommy Hanson, who had a minor scare with a rogue baseball to the face during batting practice on Thursday but appears to be fine, will see the mound for the Braves in game two of the National League Division Series. Hanson is sporting a 3.33 ERA with a 10-11 record this season. The ERA is the important figure there, as Hanson has definitely pitched better than his record indicates, and this game is promising to once again be a pitching duel.