Tim Lincecum may start Game 4 for Giants

Tim Lincecum hasn’t pitched on short rest in his major league career, but the San Francisco Giants might ask him to do so in Game 4 of the National League division series against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

The Giants have not announced their Game 4 starter, which will either be Lincecum or 21-year-old rookie Madison Bumgarner.

“I probably will say before the game tomorrow,” Manager Bruce Bochy said, referring to Game 3 Sunday. “But I may change that, wait till after the game just to see how the game goes.”

That would seem to indicate that Bochy would go to Lincecum if the Giants lose Game 3.

Lincecum had a franchise playoff record 14 strikeouts in the Giants’ Game 1 victory Thursday.

Of pitching Lincecum on short rest, Bochy said, “Not a lot of concerns, just the fact that he hasn’t done it here.”

The great comeback

Tim Hudson, the Braves’ Game 3 starter, said the elbow operation he had in 2008 might have extended his career.

“I think the Tommy John surgery was almost a blessing in disguise for me,” Hudson said. “Any time you have major surgery at 34 years old, that’s usually not a good thing. But, for me, having surgery and being able to go through the rehab process really rejuvenated my arm, rejuvenated my shoulder.”

Cox not sentimental

Bobby Cox is retiring at the end of the season, but the longtime Braves manager said that hasn’t changed his playoff experience.

“You would think it would, but it’s not,” he said. “I felt the same way [last] Sunday against the Phillies, when we won and clinched a spot in the playoffs. It never dawned on me this could be the last one.”

Dings and dents

Catcher Buster Posey, who collided with Giants teammate Pablo Sandoval in foul territory during Game 2, said the soreness in his ribs and shoulder has subsided. Freddy Sanchez, who was hit by a pitch in his right hand, didn’t hit on the field Saturday but said he would be able to start Game 3.

Going by the Manuel

After losing the first two games of the NL division series in Philadelphia, the Cincinnati Reds face a daunting task if they hope to avoid an early exit in their first postseason appearance in 15 years.

On Sunday, they’re facing left-hander Cole Hamels, who has never lost to the Reds. And if they win that one, they get a rematch with Roy Halladay, who no-hit them in the series opener. Win that, and the Reds go back to Philadelphia to face Roy Oswalt, 23-3 lifetime against Cincinnati.

“You look and say, ‘There is no way that can happen,’ ” Philadelphia Manager Charlie Manuel said. “[But] the longer I’ve been in the game and how we talk about the day-to-day thing and how we’re going to play on that day, it can happen.

“It ain’t going to happen. But it can happen.”

Thriving on adversity

This isn’t the first time the Reds have faced long odds this season. Dusty Baker’s team came from behind to win 45 times during the regular season. And 22 of their victories came in their final at-bat.

“The hardest thing is to win one,” Baker said. “You win one and you got yourself some action.”

Cabrera out

If the Reds are to stave off elimination it looks as if they’ll have to do it without former Angels player Orlando Cabrera, who came out of Friday’s game after aggravating a ribcage injury that caused him to miss 27 games in August and September.

The Reds have until just before game time Sunday to make a determination about their starting shortstop’s availability. But the club summoned infielder Chris Valaika to Cincinnati on Saturday in case they need to replace Cabrera on the roster.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

Hernandez reported from Atlanta; Baxter reported from Cincinnati.