San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain needs surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow and will likely miss the remainder of the season, according to Alex Pavlovic of the Mercury News.

Cain has yet to decide when he'll undergo the operation, which was recommended by three different doctors, but the 29-year-old right-hander will be out for at least two months regardless of when that happens. Cain threw on flat ground on Friday, notes Pavlovic, and will wait until Saturday to make a decision on the surgery.

The bone chips have been an issue for 10 years, Cain told Pavlovic, but they've never affected his pitching until now. Cain is on the disabled list for the second time this year after serving only one DL stint during his first nine seasons. He owns a career-worst 4.18 ERA/82 ERA+, but the good news is that Cain hasn't lost velocity -- at least, compared to his previous four seasons -- and his strikeout and walk rates are only slightly off of what they've been in recent years.

Cain's absence will likely have a profound effect on any shot the Giants have of overtaking the Dodgers in the National League West. San Francisco acquired veteran starter Jake Peavy before the trade deadline, and Madison Bumgarner and Tim Hudson make for a formidable top of the rotation, but it will be tough for the Giants' starting staff to match that of Los Angeles.