Kainer was drafted out of Milby High School in Houston by the Houston Astros but chose instead to accept a full scholarship to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. He was the team's fourth starting pitcher as a freshman and helped them win the 1975 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. He was selected after his junior year in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft and assigned to the Tulsa Drillers to start his professional career.
On July 1, 1977, in Kainer's first professional game, he threw a complete game shutout for the Drillers against the Shreveport Captains.
Kainer was promoted to the Major Leagues along with pitchers Brian Allard and Jerry Don Gleaton when rosters expanded in September 1980. He made his Major League debut on September 6, 1980, pitching an inning in relief of Sparky Lyle at Milwaukee County Stadium. His next three appearances would be as a starting pitcher, allowing only one run in each outing; they would also be the final games of his Major League career.

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