Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) was "just all right" when throwing off flat ground Friday.

Sanchez would have been cleared to get the ball Sunday had the session gone well, but since it didn't, the outing is still up in the air. It seems likely that Sanchez will avoid the disabled list, but the Giants might play it safe and start Dan Runzler against the Astros this weekend.

Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) is still in line to make his scheduled Sunday start against the Astros.

As previously reported, Sanchez will throw off flat ground today, though it sounds like the Giants are going with a healthy until proven otherwise approach. Even if he's ultimately not able to go on Sunday, Sanchez appears almost certain to avoid a trip to the disabled list, and should be a safe start in weekly leagues next week.

Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) is scheduled to throw off flat ground Friday.

If the workout goes smoothly, Sanchez should be cleared to make his scheduled Sunday start. If not, the Giants are likely to turn to reliever Dan Runzler and make it a sort of bullpen-guided game. Sanchez suffered a sprained ankle on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) was on crutches after Tuesday's game and Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the left-hander will be out "awhile."

In other words, it sounds like he'll certainly require a stint on the disabled list. Sanchez rolled his left ankle while fielding a bunt and while he tried to stay in, he was removed after throwing one pitch to the next batter. Barry Zito is also out with an ankle injury, so the Giants will likely go with Dan Runzler or Erik Surkamp as a replacement.

Jonathan Sanchez left Tuesday's game in the third inning with a left ankle injury.

Sanchez rolled the ankle while fielding a bunt. He tried to stay in for the next batter but was removed after throwing one pitch. With Barry Zito slated to miss significant time with an ankle injury of his own, the Giants will have to dig deep for a replacement if Sanchez needs to go on the disabled list.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that Jonathan Sanchez will make his next start.

In two outings since being activated from the disabled list, Sanchez has pitched nine innings and has a 9.00 ERA while giving up three home runs and walking six. If Sanchez has another poor appearance, look for the Giants to turn to Barry Zito.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy indicated that Jonathan Sanchez's next start could be in jeopardy.

Sanchez has looked terrible in both of his starts back from the disabled list, and it's possible the Giants could go back to Barry Zito. "I don't want to speculate," Bochy said. "We have a day off. We'll talk about our situation." At the very least, Sanchez could have his next turn pushed back or skipped altogether.

Jonathan Sanchez struggled in his first start back from the disabled list Friday, yielding five runs on seven hits and two walks over just 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Phillies.

He was also taken deep twice. It's not the start the left-hander or the Giants envisioned, as they were hoping Sanchez would be an upgrade over the struggling Barry Zito. Sanchez hasn't gone more than six innings since May 28 and has won just one game since mid-May. He'll take a 4.10 ERA and 1.44 WHIP into next week's start against the Pirates.

Giants activated LHP Jonathan Sanchez from the 15-day disabled list.

As expected, Sanchez will return to the starting rotation Friday against the Phillies. The southpaw had a 3.81 ERA and 92/59 K/BB ratio over 16 starts before hitting the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis in late-June.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) will take Barry Zito's place in the rotation Friday against the Phillies.

Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) yielded two runs over six innings Wednesday in his second minor league rehab start with Triple-A Fresno.

Sanchez fanned five, walked three and threw 54 out of 95 pitches for strikes. He has allowed four runs over 11 innings during his rehab assignment. It's not clear where or when he'll make his next start. The southpaw had a 3.81 ERA and 92/59 K/BB ratio over 16 starts before hitting the DL with left biceps tendinitis in late-June.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Giants could move left-hander Jonathan Sanchez in a deal for Carlos Beltran.

Interesting. Sanchez is making $4.8 million this season and remains under team control through 2012. Under this scenario, the Mets could potentially keep the southpaw or flip him in another deal. Sanchez is currently on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis, so a trade would be complicated.

Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday.

Sanchez will throw four innings at Single-A San Jose before moving along to Triple-A Fresno. He's hoping to return to the Giants' rotation after just two rehab starts.

Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) threw another successful bullpen session Saturday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that Sanchez feels good and will throw to live hitters in San Diego on Wednesday before heading out on a minor leaue rehab assignment. There is no reason for the Giants to rush the left-hander back, especially with Barry Zito pitching well in his absence.

Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) threw a successful bullpen session Wednesday.

Health really isn't an issue with Sanchez, as most assume his "injury" was a phantom one so that he could get straightened out. He's no guarantee to rejoin the rotation after the All-Star break, especially with Barry Zito pitching well.

Jonathan Sanchez (biceps) threw off flat ground from a distance of 90 feet before Monday's game against the Padres.

Sanchez hasn't had any setbacks in his rehab and is expected to throw a bullpen session in a few days. However, Giants manager Bruce Bochy hasn't decided whether he will be in the starting rotation following the All-Star break. "I'll have to wait and really see how he's doing," said Bochy. "That's a possibility, but it could take a little bit longer than that. At this point, I have to rely on our training staff, our medical people and how Johnny's doing." Barry Zito will take his place in the rotation for now.

Jonathan Sanchez says he has "no pain" in his biceps but is "just feeling kind of sore."

Compare that to what the lefty said following his start Friday: "There's nothing wrong with me. I'm fine. I'm healthy. I'm just having a hard time getting the ball over the plate." It's pretty clearly a phantom injury created by the Giants, but, regardless, Sanchez will miss the next couple weeks while he tries to sort things out. Barry Zito will occupy his spot in the rotation.

Giants placed LHP Jonathan Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list with left biceps tendinitis.

It looks like a phantom injury, as the Giants appeared to want to remove Sanchez from the rotation so he could work on some things. Though he has a solid ERA of 3.81 and has struck out over a batter per inning, Sanchez also leads the league in walks and has been particularly poor of late, failing to go six innings in all but one of his June outings. Barry Zito will take his spot in the rotation, though the Giants will need an additional starter for Tuesday's doubleheader.

Bruce Bochy has confirmed that Jonathan Sanchez's next turn in the rotation might be skipped.

This, despite the fact that the Giants have six games over the next five days, so they obviously have real concerns about Sanchez has looked lately. Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti will sit down and talk with Sanchez after batting practice Saturday before they officially make, or at least announce, a decision. Though he still has a 3.81 ERA, Sanchez has made it through six innings just once in June and leads all of baseball with 59 walks.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy indicated that he might remove the struggling Jonathan Sanchez from the rotation for a while.

Sanchez allowed three runs and walked six in 4 2/3 innings Friday and has made it through six innings just once in June. His 59 walks lead baseball. "Just watching him, I can tell he's lost some confidence," Bochy said. "It's just not happening. He's all over the board, and that's not him. We may keep throwing him out there. We may back him off. We'll see. But getting (Barry) Zito back does give us that option." If a move is made, we wouldn't expect it to last too long, but the Giants do have the luxury of someone like Zito ready to step in, and they might take advantage of it to allow Sanchez a breather. With a doubleheader coming Tuesday, he'll make at least one more start, but it's possible it could be his last for a while.