Scutaro's rehab could shift to Triple-A soon

SAN DIEGO -- Second baseman Marco Scutaro could move several steps closer next week to rejoining the Giants, if he can remain physically whole for another day or so.

Scutaro was expected to play six innings with San Francisco's Arizona League affiliate Saturday night. If Scutaro, sidelined all year by back problems, appears fit when he's examined after that game, he'll likely report to Triple-A Fresno to continue his Minor League injury rehabilitation stint. Giants manager Bruce Bochy conveyed this probability Saturday.

Entering Saturday, the 38-year-old Scutaro had played 17 innings at second and was batting .182 (2-for-11) with a double. If Scutaro were to advance to Fresno, he'd work on steadily building his stamina until he could play nine innings. At that point, the Giants would seriously consider reinstating Scutaro, the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 National League Championship Series who hit .319 in 188 games as a Giant from 2012-13.

Entering Saturday, Giants second basemen were hitting .174, next-to-last in the NL, and owned a .559 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), 13th in the league.