Madison Bumgarner’s timetable: Giants hope he’ll return in early June

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SACRAMENTO — The Giants played their Triple-A team at Raley Field on Saturday night while trying to move on from the reality that their best pitcher, Madison Bumgarner, could miss more than two months of the season.

“We won’t be able to replace him. He’s one of the best in the world,” left fielder Hunter Pence said. “It’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to go out and play with what we’ve got.”

“Bum’s irreplaceable,” added shortstop Brandon Crawford. “We just hope somebody could step up and fill in for him for the time being.”

Bumgarner underwent surgery Saturday, a day after taking a line drive off his hand at Scottsdale Stadium, and manager Bruce Bochy said the pitcher could miss two months, though the organization is prepared for an absence of up to 12 weeks.

“I’m hoping by early June, he’ll be pitching for us. … We’re looking at a couple of months here, give or take, so it’s going to take a while,” Bochy said.

As part of the surgery, performed by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Arizona, three pins were inserted to stabilize Bumgarner’s fifth metacarpal. Bochy said the pins would come out in a month. A couple of weeks later, a throwing program would begin.

Bochy didn’t announce a starting pitcher for Thursday’s season opener at Dodger Stadium, but all signs point to Ty Blach, who would be the most rested.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner speaks to reporters during media availability ahead of the San Francisco Giants FanFest at AT&T Park Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner speaks to reporters during media availability ahead of the San Francisco Giants FanFest at AT&T Park Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Madison Bumgarner’s timetable: Giants hope he’ll return in early June 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

Johnny Cueto, who’ll make his final spring training appearance Sunday in Oakland — the opener of the Bay Bridge Series — would pitch the season’s second game, followed by lefty Derek Holland and righty Chris Stratton.

Bochy said he plans to use a four-man rotation until a fifth pitcher — perhaps a prospect in Tyler Beede or Andrew Suarez — is needed April 10. The best-case scenario would be for the fifth pitcher to make just two or three starts before the return of Jeff Samardzija, who’ll miss most or all of April with a pectoral strain.

“Without question, we’re better equipped to deal with this than we were last year,” Bochy said.

Both Pence and Crawford said the reshaped lineup and defense should allow the Giants to absorb Bumgarner’s absence, Crawford suggesting the Giants will score more runs with the addition of Andrew McCutchen, Evan Longoria and Austin Jackson.

The Giants aren’t ruling out acquiring a pitcher from outside the organization, but general manager Bobby Evans said the preference for now is staying in house. Scott Kazmir (Braves) and Bartolo Colon (Rangers) were released Saturday, and the Diamondbacks designated Albert Suarez (acquired from the Giants in the Rule 5 draft) for assignment.

Acquiring a costly veteran could push the Giants above the $197 million luxury tax threshold, and Evans said, “Our target has been to stay below the tax, and that hasn’t changed.”

Bumgarner was handling post-surgery well, his manager said, but it can’t be easy for one of the game’s premier pitchers to sit out a good chunk of consecutive seasons. He missed three months of 2017 with shoulder and rib injuries resulting from his mid-April dirt-bike accident.

“For six weeks there in spring training, he looked as good as I’ve seen, and that’s saying a lot because he’s been so good,” Bochy said. “He was really locked in with his delivery. He made a couple of little adjustments and was throwing the ball beautifully. That’s the thing that makes me sick about this, too, along with we’re losing our No. 1 guy.

“It happens, unfortunately, in this game. What’s important is how we all respond to it, including him, but also our club.”

John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer.

River Cats 6, Giants 5

Notable: Kyle Jensen, who hit five homers for the Giants in the Arizona portion of spring training, went deep again, this time for Sacramento. … Jerry Sands also homered for Sacramento, a two-run shot off Cory Gearrin. … Sam Dyson, who had a 12.86 ERA in Arizona, pitched 11/3 scoreless innings. … In the fourth inning, Austin Jackson hit a run-scoring double and Joe Panik a two-run single. … Brandon Crawford swiped home on a double steal. … Steven Duggar doubled home a run in the eighth. ... Catcher Buster Posey, who played the final three days in Arizona, and several pitchers didn’t make the trip.

Quotable: “I think he’s a complete baseball player. He has good passion for the game. He does the little things correctly. Now it’s just about gaining experience.”

— Sacramento m anager Dave Brundage on Duggar, the center fielder who played 13 games for the River Cats last season and has impressed the front office throughout spring training.

Sunday’s game: Giants vs. A’s, at Oakland, 1:05 p.m.

— John Shea