Giants feeling better about Panda's elbow

LOS ANGELES -- Concerns about third baseman Pablo Sandoval's ailing right elbow have dwindled significantly, Giants manager Bruce Bochy indicated Wednesday.

Before San Francisco began its season-opening series against Los Angeles, Bochy said that Sandoval's readiness to play each game might be a day-to-day issue at the outset, due to anticipated fluctuations in the switch-hitter's condition.

But Sandoval played San Francisco's entire first two games without aggravating his injury, which has been diagnosed as nerve irritation.

"I think we still have to keep an eye on him, but I think he's past [being day to day]," Bochy said. "He's passed all the tests -- how he's swinging, how he's playing third. That doesn't mean it's completely behind him. We still have to monitor his workload early."