Giants rookie Matt Cain is on a nice roll, a career-high three-game winning streak, heading into the nighttime matchup vs. the Pirates.
At 21, Cain is still learning to be consistent, but he's back on track after some rough early outings. He's tied for the lead among National League rookies with four wins and ranks second with 46 strikeouts.
In his winning stretch, Cain sports a 1.83 ERA and has limited opponents to a .134 average. Over his last four appearances, he has cut 1.94 points from his once 7.04 ERA, locating his fastball well and showing great command.
Still, Cain will try to correct mistakes made in his last game, a rain-delayed, five-inning effort against the Mets when he gave up six hits yet still struck out six.
"I made bad pitches when I got ahead of guys -- I should have put them away."
Pitching matchup
SF: RHP Matt Cain (4-5, 5.10)
Cain will be making his 11th start in the series opener and first-ever outing vs. the Pirates. Although giving up four runs (three earned) over only five innings at New York last Saturday, the Giants still won, 6-4.
PIT: LHP Zach Duke (4-6, 4.23)
Duke shook off another rough first inning on Saturday night against the Padres to earn his second consecutive win. After allowing three runs in the opening frame, the southpaw blanked San Diego on just one hit over his final six innings.
The slow start was nothing new for Duke. He's given up 14 first-inning runs in 11 starts, including three starts in which he allowed three runs in the first. Duke has never faced the Giants.
Player to watch
Outfielder Moises Alou has roared back from the disabled list, collecting a pair of RBIs in his first two games after a 4 1/2 week layoff with a severe ankle sprain.