It's officially official now: Madison Bumgarner will start Game 2 of the National League Divisional Series for the Giants when they face the Reds at AT&T Park.
It's not shocking news, but it is nice to find out Bruce Bochy's starting to fill out his pitching rotation. Bochy had already named Matt Cain the Game 1 starter (he'll face off against Johnny Cueto).
MadBum getting the start in the second game was fait accompli and now we know for sure. Don't expect to hear an immediate announcement of the other starters, as Bochy said that he plans to hold off and announce who will start Games 3 and 4.
The logic behind waiting is apparently that Barry Zito, Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum are all available out of the bullpen during the first two games of the series.
In other words, maybe Lincecum's scheduled to start Game 3 as it stands right now, but if Bochy needs to use the Freak out of the bullpen, then he's not going to get the nod.
The series shifts back to Cincinnati for Games 3, 4 and 5.
One more good point about starting Bumgarner in Week 2: his home/away splits are pretty dramatic in 2012. Bumgarner allowed a 2.38 ERA at home versus a 4.40 ERA on the road this season.
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In Bumgarner's one appearance at AT&T Park against the Reds in 2012, he blanked Cincinnati over nine innings.
