Marco Scutaro (back) will begin a rehab assignment with the rookie-level Arizona League Giants on Tuesday.

Scutaro will play three innings in what will be his first game action since spring training. The second baseman underwent a blood-spinning procedure in mid-May for his chronic back issue and appears to finally have made a bit of progress. While it's nice that Scutaro is playing in games again, it remains totally up in the air as to when he might return to the Giants.

Marco Scutaro (back) will take some swings Friday and could take some at-bats with the Giants' rookie ball team next week.

Scutaro underwent a blood-spinning procedure in mid-May for his chronic back problems, but progress has been slow. If he plays at all for the Giants this season, it will likely be a very limited capacity.

Marco Scutaro (back) will take swings on Friday.

Scutaro was cleared for conditioning last Thursday and is now ready to begin trying baseball drills. The veteran second baseman had a blood-spinning procedure in mid-May for his chronic back problems. There is still no timetable for his return to the Giants.

Marco Scutaro (back) has been cleared for conditioning.

Scutaro was shut down for a couple of weeks after having a blood-spinning procedure to help with his lingering back injury. There is still no timetable for the veteran second baseman's return to San Francisco. He is rehabbing at the Giants' spring training complex.

Marco Scutaro (back) had a blood-spinning procedure in Miami recently.

Scutaro has been given PRP injections before, but they haven't helped. The Giants are hoping that the blood-spinning procedure will prepare the veteran infielder for a possible pinch-hitting role. It's looking like the 38-year-old's days as a regular could be over.

Giants transferred 2B Marco Scutaro from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

The move was made in order to clear room on the roster for Tyler Colvin. There remains no timetable for Scutaro's return as he deals with a chronic back issue.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Marco Scutaro (back) is still not close to returning.

Bochy said last week that he was hoping to have an update on Scutaro by April 17, but it doesn't look like he's going to have one. The veteran second baseman is having trouble shaking his chronic back issue and there doesn't appear to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he hopes to have a target date for Marco Scutaro (back) to return by the end of the team's current homestand.

Scutaro was forced to begin the year on the disabled list with a lower back strain and is currently in Arizona rehabbing. It's unclear when he'll be ready for game action. Joaquin Arias and Brandon Hicks will continue to fill in at second base for now.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that Marco Scutaro (back) is "still a ways away."

Scutaro appeared in only one Cactus League game this spring due to ongoing issues with his back. He remains in extended spring training and doesn't appear close to being game-ready. The Giants are going with Joaquin Arias at second base while Scutaro is out.

Giants placed 2B Marco Scutaro on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury.

It was a close call as to whether Scutaro would be ready for Opening Day, but the second baseman's balky back forced him to miss too much time earlier in spring. Scutaro is swinging a bat and fielding grounders, but it's unclear how long it will take him to get back into game shape at this point.

Marco Scutaro (back) will take some swings and field some grounders prior to Friday's game.

Scutaro underwent a diagnostic nerve block procedure Tuesday, but it didn't work so he was given a cortisone shot in hopes that it will clear things up. He's stopped and started a few times this spring, so there's no telling at this point how long he'll be out.

Marco Scutaro (back) expects to begin the season on the disabled list.

Scutaro underwent a diagnostic nerve block procedure Tuesday, but it didn't work, so he was given a cortisone shot. It's tough to nail down a timeline for his return until he tests how his back responds to the treatment. Joaquin Arias will likely fill in at second base for now.

Marco Scutaro underwent a diagnostic nerve block procedure Tuesday.

The Giants won't divulge details about the surgery until Wednesday, but the hope is that it will help determine the source of Scutaro's back trouble. He'll obviously begin the season on the disabled list, but a clearer timetable for the second baseman's return should be revealed on Wednesday.

Marco Scutaro (back) made another visit to the doctor on Tuesday.

It's a bad sign, as Scutaro was just starting to ramp up his baseball activities again. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that no surgery for Scutaro has been discussed at this time, but it's not clear how long the second baseman will be sidelined. More information about his status is expected to be available later Tuesday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy conceded Monday that the odds of Marco Scutaro (back) being ready for Opening Day are "way down."

Scutaro performed baseball activities for the second consecutive day on Monday, but he's not going to play in any more Cactus League games before camp breaks. The veteran second baseman will likely stay behind in extended spring training, working on getting his back into playable shape. The Giants could backdate a DL move, but the odds of Scutaro being ready in early April doesn't seem to be particularly high.

Marco Scutaro (back) performed baseball activities for the second consecutive day on Monday.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy noted to reporters that Scutaro "looked pretty good" while facing live pitching on a back field, but the veteran second baseman is still questionable for the start of the 2014 regular season. The Giants can back-date a 15-day disabled list stint so that he's eligible for activation in early April.

Marco Scutaro received an epidermal injection in his ailing back on Thursday.

Scutaro said it was the second shot he's been administered after the first one didn't work. Giants manager Bruce Bochy retains hope that Scutaro can play by the weekend. Bochy said it's 50-50 odds right now that Scutaro will start the year on the DL and he'd like to make a decision soon to protect the player's retroactive DL days.

Marco Scutaro made his Cactus League debut on Monday, going 1-for-2 against the Angels.

Scutaro was taken out before the bottom of the third, giving him two innings in the field. He has been dealing with back problems, which kept him out of spring action for several weeks. Scutaro doubled and scored a run in his first at-bat, and struck out in his second at-bat.

Marco Scutaro (back) is back in the Giants' lineup Monday.

"This is the time to get ready," Scutaro said. "And you get ready playing games." Things had been looking bleak for Scutaro's chances at being ready for Opening Day, but he's finally making some progress with his ailing back. Of course, he's had setbacks along the way and another one can occur at any time.

Marco Scutaro (back, finger) took batting practice and joined the club for fielding work on Wednesday.

Scutaro told the media that his ailing back continues to show improvement. His availability for Opening Day had been looking pretty bleak, but Scutaro could turn things around if he keeps progressing.