SAN DIEGO -- Ty Blach's September has certainly been intriguing. Now the Giants will get to see a larger sample.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Blach is set to start Sunday in place of Johnny Cueto, although the rookie will be available out of the bullpen just in case the Giants need him in an emergency on Saturday night. Cueto played catch for the second straight day, but his strained left groin will keep him off the field until at least Tuesday.
Blach has made two appearances since a September 1 call-up. The lefty has faced 20 batters and allowed just one hit and one walk. Blach has needed just 66 pitches to throw six shutout innings.
Blach was chosen over Jake Peavy and Matt Cain, and Bochy noted that Blach -- fresh off an eye-opening Triple-A season -- is more accustomed to starting than the veterans are right now. Peavy and Cain have not seen much action over the past month.
As for the other injured Giant, Brandon Crawford is taking swings off a tee and he has a new padded contraption to protect his dislocated finger when it's in his glove. He has not ruled out a return to the lineup on Sunday.
--- We're on milestone watch tonight: Madison Bumgarner will take his fourth crack at a 100th big league win. He is also a lock to set the franchise record for strikeouts by a left-hander. Bumgarner needs three to tie Cy Seymour's mark, set in 1898, according to the Elias Spots Bureau. He is 24 away from Tim Lincecum's franchise record.
Buster Posey is three hits away from 1,000. He would be the first to reach 1,000 hits in a Giants uniform since Rich Aurilia in 2003.
Brandon Belt needs two walks to reach 100 for the season. He already has the most by a Giant since Barry Bonds drew 137 walks in 2007. Belt was moved up to the No. 2 spot, with Bochy saying he's trying to "shake it up" with a lineup that is last in the majors with an average of 3.3 runs per game in September.
