Cincinnati --

Barry Zito will take his next turn in the Giants' rotation Sunday, in the series finale against the Reds, but manager Bruce Bochy hinted that Jonathan Sanchez could come off the disabled list and replace Zito in the rotation next time.

Bochy said he might fit Sanchez into the rotation on Friday, which would be Zito's spot.

The staff wants to see how Zito does Sunday and how Sanchez comes out of his most recent rehab start for Triple-A Fresno, which was Wednesday. But the pendulum seems to be swinging Sanchez's way.

Asked how he will manage six starters for five spots, Bochy said, "It comes down to who we feel is throwing the best. We'll have to do what we did in the postseason. Somebody is going to be left off. In the postseason we only needed four (starters). But it's the same situation. We'll have our five best going. I don't know how else to do it."