September is just around the corner and the San Francisco Giants are still jockeying for position in the NL West. They are smack dab in the middle of a 12 game home stand, looking for a series win against the Houston Astros Sunday afternoon behind All-Star starter Matt Cain.
Cain (10-9 2.90 ERA) will be out to get the Giants third win in a row, a feat they haven't achieved since the middle of July. He threw seven innings of three run ball in his last outing, a no decision is a loss to the Padres, but hasn't faced the Astros yet this season.
Houston will counter with Bay Area native Bud Norris (6-8 3.73 ERA), making his first career start against his childhood team in the City by the Bay. Norris knows his team is likely going to finish around the bottom of the barrel, but is keeping his focus on the task at hand:
"All the work you've put in during Spring Training is going to carry on for this last month," he said. "You've got six or seven more starts left and you have to put it all together and try not to end on a bad note."
Quick note: Astros second baseman and former Giant Matt Downs is batting .484 in August, highest in all of MLB since the beginning of the month.
First pitch is set for 1:05 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.