Lincecum on track to make first start

PHOENIX -- Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum said Monday that he's embarking upon his usual between-starts routine in anticipation of pitching Thursday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as scheduled.

Lincecum emerged relatively unharmed after a line drive hit by Oakland's Daric Barton struck him on the inside of his left knee in the fourth inning of Friday's Bay Bridge Series exhibition game. Lincecum left the game immediately but X-rays showed no fracture.

"It's just a bruise," Lincecum repeated Monday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy all but declared that Lincecum's the official choice to start Thursday.

"He seems to be doing fine," Bochy said of Lincecum, who rode a stationary bicycle Monday and plans to throw off a bullpen mound and run Tuesday.