Giants’ Johnny Cueto passes test, returning to rotation

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SAN DIEGO — The Giants are at a major disadvantage playing without their top three starting pitchers, but they anticipate getting one back Tuesday.

Johnny Cueto felt good Saturday after making 40 pitches — 20 to hitters and another 20 off a bullpen mound — and expressed confidence about coming off the disabled list and pitching the series opener in Arizona.

Manager Bruce Bochy said, “Right now, it looks like a go.”

Cueto hasn’t pitched since April 4 because he sprained his left ankle working out April 7. He threw off flat ground Thursday, and passing Saturday’s test (including throws to first base and bunt coverage) was a good indication the ankle isn’t restraining him.

“I think I should be able to field my position,” Cueto said. “Everything that I did today was to test the ankle. … It’s getting better day by day.”

The news wasn’t good for Jeff Samardzija (pectoral strain), who made a rehab start Saturday night at Class A San Jose and was rocked for six first-inning runs. The Giants had said Samardzija might need just one rehab game before rejoining the rotation.

Facing Stockton, Samardzija threw 25 pitches in the first inning and surrendered a grand slam to Nate Mondou, a 13th-round pick in 2016. Samardzija rebounded to strike out the side in the second, and was removed in the third inning after reaching his pitch limit.

Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto, working out Thursday in San Diego, hasn’t pitched in a game since April 4. Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto, working out Thursday in San Diego, hasn’t pitched in a game since April 4. Photo: Kelvin Kuo / Associated Press Photo: Kelvin Kuo / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Giants’ Johnny Cueto passes test, returning to rotation 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Briefly: The Giants will be denied another series win at Petco Park. Sunday marks the finale of the four-game series, and the best they can do is split. They haven’t won a series here since May 17-19, 2016. … Derek Holland gave up two runs in each of his first three starts and was pulled Saturday with two outs in the fifth after yielding three runs on six hits and two walks. Bochy said Holland’s final pitches were a sign he was tiring. But Holland said, “I definitely didn’t run out of gas. They did a good job of getting me in shape. It was just my fault for trying to be too fine. I just didn’t get enough rhythm.”

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