1. RHP Tim Lincecum

2. LHP Randy Johnson

3. RHP Matt Cain

4. LHP Barry Zito

5. LHP Jonathan Sanchez

ROTATION ANALYSIS: Is this the deepest rotation in the NL? Maybe. If Lincecum doesn't collapse after a spectacular Cy Young Award-winning season. If Johnson's back doesn't act up. If Cain (15-30 the past two seasons) is able to turn a decent ERA into lots of wins. If Zito doesn't have another awful start. If Sanchez has two solid halves instead of one.

BULLPEN:

RHP Brian Wilson (closer)

RHP Bobby Howry

LHP Jeremy Affeldt

LHP Alex Hinshaw

RHP Brandon Medders

RHP Luis Perdomo

RHP Justin Miller

BULLPEN ANALYSIS: It's much deeper than last year, thanks to newcomers Howry and Affeldt, who'll set up Wilson. LHP Jack Taschner was traded to Philadelphia after he struggled to locate the strike zone in spring training, meaning Hinshaw will have a more important role after appearing in 48 games as a rookie. Affeldt still is the top lefty.

LINEUP:

1. RF Randy Winn

2. SS Edgar Renteria

3. LF Fred Lewis

4. C Bengie Molina

5. 3B Pablo Sandoval

6. CF Aaron Rowand

7. 1B Travis Ishikawa

8. 2B Kevin Frandsen or Emmanuel Burriss

LINEUP ANALYSIS: The Giants are promising more runs and more home runs. Last year, they were second-to-last in the NL in runs (ahead of the Padres) and last in homers (only team with fewer than 100). But it'll be more about manufacturing runs than hitting three-run homers. Renteria is expected to provide gap power, and Lewis and Burriss (if he beats out Frandsen) will provide speed. Fans are eagerly awaiting a full season out of Sandoval, who hit .345 in the final six weeks.

RESERVES:

INF Juan Uribe

INF/OF Eugenio Velez

OF Nate Schierholtz

C Steve Holm

INF Rich Aurilia

INF Kevin Frandsen or Emmanuel Burriss

RESERVES ANALYSIS: It'll be a tough call which backup infielders to keep. If Frandsen is the second baseman, Burriss could open the season at Class AAA. If Burriss is the second baseman, the Giants could have an overload of utility men. It'll be an especially tough decision if the Giants keep 12 pitchers instead of 11, lessening the number of bench players.

ROOKIE WATCH: Travis Ishikawa is the first baseman, and the Giants hope he'll do what last year's experiment, Daniel Ortmeier, didn't. Ishikawa is much further advanced defensively, and the switch hitter showed in spring training he's capable of hitting lefties. C Buster Posey, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft, will get significant time in the majors only if starter Bengie Molina gets hurt.

MEDICAL WATCH:

SS Edgar Renteria (sore right elbow) was day-to-day as of March 30.

LHP Noah Lowry (left forearm surgery in March 2008, left elbow surgery in September 2008) will open the season on the disabled list.

RHP Sergio Romo (sprained right elbow) was slowed early in spring training and likely will open the season on the disabled list.

OF Nate Schierholtz (lower back) will be monitored early in the season. He missed time in spring training and continues to need treatment.