Rested Lincecum is bad news for foes

[adamslin]

PHILADELPHIA -- Extra rest occasionally hampers some starting pitchers, who struggle to cope with the disruption in their routine.

Tim Lincecum isn't one of them. Then again, did you think he would be?

Nothing seems to bother Lincecum -- not runners on base, a high pitch count or the pressure of ending a losing streak. But he is human, and this is September. So Lincecum accepted pitching coach Dave Righetti's suggestion that an extra day of rest might benefit him after he threw a season-high 127 pitches during his eight-inning effort last Friday in the Giants' 2-0 victory over Colorado.

"He came to me and told me he felt like this would be better for me, and I agreed," said Lincecum, who'll face the Philadelphia Phillies on five days' rest in Thursday's series finale.

Lincecum's statistics sparkle under any circumstance, but they're especially impressive in games when he has received five days' rest.

On four days' rest, Lincecum has been excellent, posting a 26-11 record (.703 winning percentage) with a 2.91 ERA and a 3.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Opponents have hit .225 in these games.

But on five days' rest, Lincecum has been even more untouchable. He's 10-2 (.833) with a 2.31 ERA and a 3.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His opponents' batting average in these starts? A mere .198.

Lincecum is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies.

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[Victor]

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