Vogelsong to start spring opener for champion Giants, Cain next

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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford, middle, stretches during a spring training baseball workout Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Madison Bumgarner will follow Matt Cain in San Francisco's starting rotation, though Giants manager Bruce Bochy says there will likely be some shuffling before the end of spring camp.

"We can still tweak it," Bochy said Friday. "I'll keep saying that when I look at all five starters, they are all so balanced."

Ryan Vogelsong starts Saturday's exhibition opener against a visiting split squad of Los Angeles Angels. Cain will take the ball Sunday, followed by Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito.

Zito will start for the World Series champions in their regular-season home opener, with Vogelsong to pitch out of the fifth spot.

"I haven't really announced that yet," Bochy said. "At the end of the year, knock on wood they all stay healthy, they'll get the same amount of starts. It's not who is No. 1 or who follows who. Each one of these guys gives us a chance to win every time they take the mound. I don't want them to get caught up in this."

Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who made the previous four opening day starts, is happy with the arrangement and glad for the opportunity to pitch in the season's opening series in Los Angeles.

"I'm definitely excited to get out there again and throw against them," Lincecum said. "That rivalry is so huge and the Dodgers went out and made themselves better too. I enjoy throwing at the Los Angeles Dodger blue, and not necessarily at the name on the back."

Lincecum is coming off the worst of his six major league seasons. He was 10-15 with a 5.18 ERA, which "jumped" his career ERA to 3.31.

Despite being taken out of the rotation for the post-season, Lincecum managed to make his mark, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six appearances, including one start.

Zito won 15 games for the Giants last year, including six in a row. He also threw his first shutout in nine years. All of which prompted Bochy to give him the home opener.

"With the year he had and some of things he's been through, I'm sure it would mean a lot to him," Bochy said.

NOTES: With the trade of 3B Conor Gillaspie and the impending departure of Pablo Sandoval to the World Baseball Classic, Bochy said he will turn to Joaquin Arias, Brett Pill and minor leaguer Adam Duvall to fill the position. Pill, an outfielder-first baseman, played third for one inning last year, his only major league experience. He also played third at Cal State Fullerton. "Really it's just a matter of getting the arm strength back," Pill said. "And I have been taking ground balls at third." ... RHP Jeff Soptic, whom the Giants acquired in the trade for Gillaspie, will report to the minor league camp.