Cain feeling better, closing in on return to mound

SAN FRANCISCO -- Manager Bruce Bochy said he spoke with starter Matt Cain during the Giants' 8-1 victory on Sunday against Minnesota. According to Bochy, Cain is "doing a lot better" and "close" to returning to the mound.

Cain was originally slated to start Monday afternoon's game against Chicago, but was officially scratched from the start on Saturday. Cain exited his May 21 outing against Colorado after three innings with a strained right hamstring.

Bochy said he has not talked to injured second baseman Marco Scutaro lately, though. Scutaro remains in Florida, where he received a platelet-rich plasma injection last Monday in hopes of speeding his recovery from a nagging back injury.

Prior to the non-surgical procedure, Scutaro had been getting treatment at the team's complex in Arizona. He was initially placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21 but was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 10.