Matt Cain was scratched from his scheduled start last week with elbow inflammation, but returned to the mound yesterday for a bullpen session and manager Bruce Bochy said afterward that “he let it go with no hesitation.”
Bochy told Chris Haft of MLB.com that Cain will likely be asked to throw batting practice or a simulated game later this week before being cleared to return to game action, but barring a setback he should have plenty of time to be ready for Opening Day.
Cain has been remarkably healthy and durable throughout his career, starting at least 31 games and logging at least 190 innings in each of his first five full seasons in the majors. Since joining the rotation full time as a 21-year-old in 2006 only CC Sabathia, Bronson Arroyo, and Dan Haren have started more games and thrown more innings among all MLB pitchers.
