SAN FRANCISCO -- Albert Suarez was supposed to be a spot starter. Instead, he's found himself in a big league rotation for the stretch run.
Suarez will start Friday, and manager Bruce Bochy indicated this will be the way he continues to go unless Suarez implodes. Matt Cain was told he's shifting to the bullpen and Jake Peavy is just starting the recovery process. Peavy played catch Thursday for the first time since having an injection in his sore back.
"I thought Suarez threw the ball well in his last start," Bochy said. "He made the one mistake. As far as where everybody is at, we feel better off going with Suarez."
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Cain struggled in his lone rehab start and Bochy said the ball was left up too often. "He's better suited to help us in the bullpen right now," Bochy said.
Cain has a 5.81 ERA and 1.55 WHIP this season. The Giants had hoped he could find some of his old form, and at times he did. But he wasn't able to do it consistently.
"It's a hard one to answer, really, because he has been really good at times," Bochy said. "He for some reason has had a hard time maintaining his delivery and when he gets out of sync he has a hard time getting back."
Bochy no longer needs depth from Suarez or anyone in the No. 5 spot. He has 11 relievers, including six left-handers.
San Francisco Giants
"You might get tired of seeing me walk to the mound," Bochy joked.
--- Trevor Brown was supposed to start today but he's pretty sick, so Buster Posey moved over from a planned start at first base. Brandon Belt was supposed to get a night off, but instead he hits eighth, and Bochy said he told him to relax and have fun.
As for the catchers, it was a little surprising that no third catcher was called up, but Bochy said the staff is talking about making another move. It sounds like the Giants will add a catcher — probably Miguel Olivo or Tony Sanchez — when the minor league season ends next week. For now, Ehire Adrianza is the emergency third catcher.
--- Blach won’t be used as a one-out guy. Bochy said he’ll be a long reliever or spot starter. The timing of the call-up couldn’t be better for Blach, a lefty who posted a 3.43 ERA in Triple-A. He’s from Denver and the Giants go to Coors Field next week. Blach said about 120 family members and friends attended a game he started in Colorado Springs last season.
Blach could be the next man up if Suarez falters, but he wasn’t worried about his role Thursday. He didn’t care, either, that he got called up to the smallest clubhouse in the league.
“It’s the big leagues,” he said, a wide smile on his face. “You can’t complain one bit.”