Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Marco Scutaro (back) isn't close to taking live batting practice.

Scutaro had been slated to make his Cactus League debut Sunday or Monday, but he's had a setback and things are looking bleak for his availability for Opening Day. Bochy said that he'd provide an update on the second baseman's status Wednesday.

Marco Scutaro's (back) Cactus League debut has been pushed back.

Scutaro had begun hitting soft-toss but has evidently suffered a setback with his chronically injured back. He had been set to make his spring debut on Sunday or Monday, but now when he'll be cleared for game action is totally up in the air. Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted that if Scutaro isn't playing in games by the end of next week, the club will have to find another Opening Day second baseman. Right now the top internal options are Tony Abreu and Joaquin Arias.

Marco Scutaro (back) has begun hitting soft-toss.

It's the first hitting he's done in camp, as the Giants have taken it easy on the 38-year-old and his sore back. Scutaro has also admitted that his surgically-repaired left pinkie is not quite 100 percent. However, the second baseman is confident that he'll be ready to go on Opening Day. "Yeah, because I've seen improvement with my back," he said.

Marco Scutaro (back) will likely make his Cactus League debut Sunday or Monday, according to Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Bochy also clarified that Scutaro hasn't suffered a setback, the club is just bringing him along slowly. Scutaro has been sidelined as he attempts to strengthen his core and back after he was bothered by back pain on and off last season. If the 38-year-old stays on track, he should be fine and ready to go by the start of the season.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday that Marco Scutaro (back) is on track to make his Cactus League debut next week.

The veteran infielder has been on a core strengthening program in an effort to resolve the nagging back issues that he's dealt with over the past few seasons. He still has yet to swing a bat this spring, but the Giants believe he will be healthy and ready to go for Opening day.

Marco Scutaro (back) has yet to swing a bat this spring.

Scutaro is on a core strengthening program as the Giants trying to get his wonky back as healthy as possible. In addition to not swinging a bat yet, he's only been fielding grounders for the last three days. Scutaro has also admitted that his surgically-repaired left pinkie is not quite 100 percent. Yet, Giants general manager Brian Sabean isn't worried -- at least not at this point. "I have no plans right now to switch gears because we expect him to be healthy," said Sabean, "and there's plenty of time to get him healthy."

Marco Scutaro (back) won't play in the Giants' first spring game.

Scutaro is still trying to strengthen his back and acknowledged last week that his surgically-repaired left pinkie is not quite 100 percent. The veteran second baseman is not a good bet this year in standard fantasy leagues. It's a position that suddenly has some depth.

Marco Scutaro will skip some early spring training drills in order to focus on strengthening his back.

Scutaro admitted Tuesday that his back, which bothered him off-and-on last season, is still an issue. "It seems like when you have a bad back, your whole body feels [bad]," he said. "It's one of those things that's annoying, but you have to deal with it." The second baseman also indicated that his surgically-repaired left pinkie is much better but still not 100 percent, saying he can "pretty much" can swing a bat without feeling pain. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he'll give Scutaro "more breaks this year."

Marco Scutaro will undergo surgery on Friday to have a pin inserted into his left pinkie finger.

Scutaro has been dealing with "mallet finger" caused by tendon damage from him getting hit by a pitch back in June. The pin will remain in his finger for around six weeks and his finger may be permanently bent to some degree, but he should be fine for the start of the 2014 season. The 38-year-old still has two years and over $13 million left on his contract.

Marco Scutaro (finger) has been shut down for the season.

He just hasn't made enough progress in his recovery from a left ring finger injury, and he's nursed a tight back, as well. Scutaro will have a splint put on the finger and should arrive at spring training next season with no limitations.

Marco Scutaro (finger) is not in the Giants starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.

There had been speculation that Scutaro could be eased back into action as the DH over the weekend, but it's Hector Sanchez serving in that role on Saturday. He hasn't appeared in a game since Sunday due to inflammation in his pinkie finger.

Marco Scutaro (finger) could DH this weekend against the Yankees.

Scutaro hasn't played since Sunday due to inflammation in his pinkie finger, but he's going to attempt to take swings Friday. Serving as the DH could be a way to ease him back into action.

The finger injury Marco Scutaro is dealing with is actually to his left ring finger, not the pinkie that he originally hurt back in June.

So he's now nursing injuries to two fingers on his left hand. However, an MRI taken Wednesday on Scutaro's ring finger didn't show any structural damage and he's expected to return to action before the end of the season.

An MRI taken Wednesday on Marco Scutaro's sore left pinkie showed no new structural damage.

Scutaro is battling some inflammation and will likely be dealing with discomfort for the remainder of the regular season. But he's not going to be shut down, and that has to be considered good news for now. Scutaro should return to action in a couple of days.

Marco Scutaro (finger) may be done for the year.

Scutaro suffered tendon damage in his left pinkie finger back in June when he was hit by a pitch and is again experiencing discomfort in that region. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday evening that he would talk to the veteran second baseman about resting up for 2014. Scutaro underwent an MRI on the finger Tuesday afternoon.

Marco Scutaro (finger, back) is not in the Giants' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Mets.

Scutaro has been bothered recently by a sore lower back and tendon damage in his one of his fingers. He will receive regular days of rest down the stretch.

Marco Scutaro (finger, back) is unlikely to play in Tuesday's series opener against the Mets.

Scutaro has been dealing with the finger injury since initially sustaining tendon damage against the Pirates. He's also dealing with a recurring back injury, that bothered him during Sunday's game. Look for the veteran infielder to receive regular days of rest over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Marco Scutaro is not in the Giants' lineup Sunday.

Scutaro will rest for all day games the rest of the way. Tony Abreu is handling second base Sunday.

Marco Scutaro is not in the Giants' starting lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

It appears to be just a routine day of rest for the veteran infielder who has dealt with back issues throughout the season. Joaquin Arias will start at second base in his absence.

Marco Scutaro (back) went 0-for-4 in his return to action Monday.

Scutaro left Saturday's game with a tight lower back and appeared as a pinch-hitter on Sunday. He'll likely continue to require occasional rest down the stretch.