MIAMI -- For almost a year, 51 weeks to be exact, Matt Cain has pined for the day he could return to a major-league mound and contribute rather than spectate, to take up the fight on the field and not take up space in the training room.
Cain gets his wish Thursday when he makes his first start since last July 9. The Giants need him to be good as well as healthy if they want to avoid a three-game Marlins sweep and spit out the bitter taste of Wednesday night's horrible 6-5 loss.