St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants, NLCS Game 4

When: Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX

Starting pitchers: Adam Wainwright vs. Tim Lincecum

Bruce Bochy tabbed Tim Lincecum for Game 4 following the Giants' 3-1 loss to the Cardinals in Game 3 on Wednesday. Lincecum's regular-season struggles relegated him to bullpen duty in the NLDS, though the right-hander thrived in the role; in two appearances, he hurled 6⅓ innings of one-run ball while striking out eight. He also pitched two innings of scoreless ball in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Adam Wainwright sparkled in his Game 1 start of the NLDS against the Nationals, firing 5⅔ innings of one-run ball while striking out 10 batters. He did have some control problems, walking three and allowing six hits, and the Cardinals eventually lost the game, 3-2. But for as good as he was in Game 1, Wainwright was as bad in Game 5. The Nationals blasted the righty for six runs on seven hits in just 2⅓ innings, although the Cardinals completed a miraculous ninth-inning comeback to advance to the NLCS.

Carlos Beltran might be pleased to see Lincecum toeing the rubber: in 20 career plate appearances against the righty, Beltran has hit .500/.650/.929 with a home run and three doubles. Matt Holliday could also be looking forward to his turn in the batter's box, as he has hit .294/.368/.353 with a pair of doubles.

Bochy might consider tabbing Xavier Nady for a start against Wainwright. In 25 plate appearances against the Wainwright, Nady has hit .391/.440/.391. The only Giant to take Wainwright deep, Hunter Pence, is a .289/.289/.447 hitter against the righty in 39 plate appearances.