He pitched 21 1/3 innings in the 2010 postseason without allowing an earned run, threw baseball's 22nd perfect game in June and started the All-Star Game for the National League in July.

Everyone knew Matt Cain would start Game 1 of the Division Series. The only question was when Giants manager Bruce Bochy would formalize it.

Bochy picked Monday, the pitcher's 28th birthday, just before Cain pitched five innings in a 3-2 Dodgers win that saved L.A.'s season for another day. A loss would have meant elimination from the wild-card race.