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 Merkin Valdez

RHP Luis Perdomo

RHP Joe Martinez or RHP Ramon Ortiz or RHP Keiichi Yabu

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 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 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 Andres Torres

OF Nate Schierholtz

INF Rich Aurilia

RESERVES ANALYSIS: The Giants plan to go without a pure backup catcher, using Pedro Sandoval to back up Bengie Molina. Aurilia and Uribe give the team a veteran presence on the bench, while the Giants still have high hopes for 2008 Olympian Schierholtz.

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:

LHP Jonathan Sanchez (burned left index finger) sat out a scheduled start on April 1. He is expected to make his regular-season debut on April 11.

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.