Hector Sanchez was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup on Thursday due to a sore shoulder.

Sanchez has also missed time this spring with a calf injury. He is expected to serve as Buster Posey's backup this season but may now be questionable for Opening Day. Johnny Monell took his place for Thursday's game.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Hector Sanchez (calf) is "close" to returning.

Sanchez has been sidelined the last four games with a right calf injury, but it's not anything to be concerned about. The Giants expect him to return to Cactus League games this weekend.

Hector Sanchez has been out since Tuesday due to calf tightness.

He's feeling better, though, and should return to the lineup soon. Sanchez has also missed time this spring with a shoulder injury.

Hector Sanchez (shoulder) is slated to make his Cactus League debut Saturday.

Sanchez has been slowed by a right shoulder injury but has obviously made big strides. He'll back up Buster Posey during the upcoming season.

Hector Sanchez (shoulder) threw to bases with no issues on Monday afternoon in Giants camp.

Sanchez is expected to begin catching in Cactus League games by the end of this week. He has been slowed by a right shoulder injury, but it's considered to be minor.

Hector Sanchez is being slowed by a right shoulder injury that will keep him out of Cactus League games for the time being.

Sanchez said he suffered the injury while playing winter ball in Venezuela. He is able to take batting practice but will not participate in spring games until he is able to throw. There is no timetable for his return, but the injury is thought to be day-to-day. Sanchez is stuck squarely behind NL MVP Buster Posey, so this injury will likely have little impact on his playing time anyway.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Hector Sanchez has "got some work to do on the conditioning side."

Bochy said Sanchez might need to get on the Panda Plan with fellow out of shape teammate Pablo Sandoval. Sanchez will open the 2013 season as the backup to Buster Posey.

As Giants skipper Bruce Bochy had alluded to, Hector Sanchez will hit eighth and serve as the team's DH for Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday night in Detroit.

The rest of the lineup is pretty standard for San Fran, going Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro, Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt, Gregor Blanco, Sanchez then Brandon Crawford.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced Friday that Hector Sanchez will serve as the DH in Game 3 of the World Series in Detroit on Saturday.

Though Sanchez is the only backup catcher on the roster, he's clearly the best offensive option the Giants have for that spot.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Hector Sanchez will likely catch Tim Lincecum on Sunday and during the playoffs.

"That's my preference," said Bochy. "I just like the way it's been going, although the last game was a little hiccup." Buster Posey will likely play first base on the days Lincecum pitches, which means we'll see Brandon Belt in left field.

Hector Sanchez had a solo homer and an RBI double against the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Sanchez is batting .273 with three homers and 34 RBI in 209 at-bats this season. He's walked just four times and he still looks raw behind the plate on occasion, but he's just 22 and he still has plenty of room to grow.

Giants activated C Hector Sanchez from the 15-day disabled list.

Sanchez wound up missing a little more than two weeks because of a left knee sprain. The 22-year-old backup catcher is batting .281/.286/.383 in 133 plate appearances this season. He holds zero fantasy value.

Hector Sanchez (knee) is expected to return from the disabled list Thursday when first eligible.

Sanchez spent the entire weekend playing in minor league rehab games and should be more than ready come Thursday afternoon. There's been talk of the 32-year-old serving as the Giants' primary catcher down the stretch with Buster Posey playing first base.

Hector Sanchez (knee) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Fresno.

Sanchez estimates that he'll need about five or six rehab games before coming off the disabled list. Eli Whiteside will serve as Buster Posey's backup for now.

Hector Sanchez (knee) will be allowed to resume running Wednesday.

Sanchez is on track to return next month when first eligible. Until then, Eli Whiteside will continue to serve as Buster Posey's backup.

Hector Sanchez (knee) will undergo an MRI Wednesday.

Sanchez exited Tuesday's game with a left knee sprain that he suffered while running to first base. Giants manager Bruce Bochy thinks the catcher might only need a day or two to return, but we'll have to see what the exam says.

Hector Sanchez finished a four-hit night with a game-winning infield single as the Giants edged the Astros 3-2 in 12 innings Saturday.

Sanchez made up for his error that allowed the Astros to tie the game in the ninth. Tim Lincecum's personal catcher of late, he aided his case for playing time by handling the former Cy Young Award winner's eight scoreless innings tonight. He's also doing just fine offensively with his .278 average and 24 RBI in 126 at-bats, though it comes with a dreadful 29/2 K/BB ratio.

Hector Sanchez had a three-run double as the Giants' cleanup hitter in Wednesday's loss.

Sanchez has driven in 16 runs with just 69 at-bats this season. It's too bad manager Bruce Bochy isn't more willing to use him off the bench in big situations; since the Giants are only carrying two catchers at the moment, he's made a mere five pinch-hitting appearances this season.

Hector Sanchez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double on Saturday, helping to lead the Giants to a 5-2 victory over the Brewers.

Sanchez has seen an increase in his playing time recently with Aubrey Huff out of the lineup and Buster Posey filling in it at first base occasionally. He's off to a strong start to the season, hitting .255 with eight RBI in limited at-bats.

Hector Sanchez belted his first major league homer Monday, a two-run shot in a win over the Mets.

It was his lone hit on the night, but obviously a big one. Sanchez had a big year at the plate in the minors last year and gives the Giants a nice offensive option behind Buster Posey. He could have value if Posey should go down.