Matt Cain named Giants’ fifth starter

It’s official: Matt Cain will be the San Francisco Giants’ fifth starter at the onset of this 2017 season.

Manager Bruce Bochy knows the longest-tenured Giant pretty well, and liked what he saw:

“I look at what’s happening with the player and the man. It’s not like he was walking guys.”

True. Cain only walked five batters through spring — he’s not off, which is more than enough for Bochy and staff to keep Cain in place. This news surprises no one.

The 32-year-old has made just 43 starts since requiring surgery on this throwing elbow in 2014, he had started at least 30 games in each of his prior eight seasons — including a league-leading 34 starts in 2008. In 17 starting nods last season, Cain posted a 4-8 record and 5.64 ERA.

Bochy also confirmed that Ty Blach will make the team, which is also no surprise:

“We’ll use Ty everywhere…anything from long relief to spot start.”

Blach has earned that role, posting a 4.22 ERA and 13 strikeouts through 21-1/3 innings. He seems to like the AT&T Park stage, too. Through two games — 2016 against the Dodgers, and Thursday against the A’s — the rookie has yet to give up a run in San Francisco.

In non-pitcher news, Bochy also wink-winked a confirmation that outfielder Chris Marrero would make the team. Asked if it would ‘be crazy’ if Marrero would be the righty platoon option in left, Bochy said:

“I think you can figure that one out.”

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Shayna Rubin is SFBay’s San Francisco Giants beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @ShaynaRubin on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Giants baseball.