Lincecum to start Game 4? |? Gimpy Beltran available

The Giants made it official after the Game 3 loss to the Cardinals, naming Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito their starters in St. Louis the next two days.

Madison Bumgarner, who took the loss in Game 1 after allowing six runs in 3 2/3 innings, will spend the rest of the NLCS in the bullpen.

Lincecum pitched two scoreless innings in relief in Game 1, and the Giants made it pretty obvious afterwards that their preference was to pitch in Game 4. It?ll be his first postseason start after three relief appearances in which he?s allowed one run and amassed a 9/1 K/BB ratio in 8 1/3 innings.

Zito will be making his second postseason start. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and gave up two runs in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Reds, yet the Giants won anyway. They?ve prevailed in each of his last 12 starts.

With Lincecum starting, it will be interesting to see what the Giants do behind the plate Thursday. Hector Sanchez was Lincecum?s primary catcher throughout the second half, with Buster Posey often shifting to first base in Lincecum?s starts. However, the Lincecum-Posey pairing has worked out great so far during the postseason relief appearances. If Posey moves to first, then Brandon Belt, who is 3-for-11 with a double and an RBI in the NLCS, will take a seat.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/17/giants-to-start-tim-lincecum-in-game-4-barry-zito-in-game-5/related/

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