SCOTTSDALE -- Matt Cain felt strong in the first week of camp and was eager to face big league hitters. On Friday, he'll finally get that chance.
Cain pitched a simulated game on a back field at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday afternoon and was cleared to start Friday's Cactus League game. That will be the first appearance of the spring for Cain, who had a cyst removed from his right arm just as pitchers started facing hitters late last month. Cain said he felt good physically while throwing two 15-pitch innings.
"He's good to go," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He passed his test. It was a good session for him, and I thought it went very well."
[RELATED: Cain undergoes procedure to remove cyst]
Bochy said Cain threw all his pitches and showed good stuff. The Giants will check on him one last time Tuesday to make sure he feels fine the day after throwing, but they don't expect a setback. Cain will race against the clock now, working to get his pitch count up in the 80-plus range so he can be ready to make his first scheduled start of the regular season, April 8 against the Dodgers. The Giants have told Cain not to rush back, but the right-hander is confident that he has enough time to get ready.
There was more good news elsewhere on the injury front, as Bochy plans to have Denard Span, Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence in the outfield together on Wednesday. Span has been limited to DH duty because of a sore shoulder, Pagan was held back early in camp because he had offseason knee surgery, and Pence missed time with a sore Achilles. Wednesday's game will be the first time the new-look outfield plays together, with Span in center and Pagan in left.
