SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants spent several days trying to figure out how they would clear a roster spot for Cory Gearrin, and on Thursday they killed two birds with one stone. Matt Cain was put on the disabled list with a lower back strain, opening a spot for Gearrin and clearing the way for the Giants to skip their No. 5 spot and have Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Matt Moore face the Dodgers next week.
The Giants do not need a fifth starter until August 27, and Jake Peavy can make that appearance. The spot would come up again September 2 and Cain should be ready to return by then.
It is here that it must be pointed out that when Cain met with the media after Wednesday's start, he said he would be disappointed if his turn in the rotation was skipped. That was followed by a meeting with the staff, and a day later the DL move. It is here that it also must be pointed out that every team does this.
Gearrin had a 3.89 ERA in 41 appearances before going on the DL with a shoulder strain, and most of the damage was done after he first started to feel pain. He had a 2.16 ERA on June 26 and had moved into an eighth-inning role. In eight appearances during a long rehab assignment, he allowed just five hits and one run.
