No hurry with Melancon

Having a record such as the Giants’ changes the way a team approaches injury rehabilitation. The best example is closer Mark Melancon, who is progressing at a snail’s pace in his return from a forearm strain, on purpose.

Melancon threw off a mound again Sunday, about 30 pitches, and manager Bruce Bochy said the pitcher has taken a “big step.”

Were the Giants fighting for a playoff spot, they might have a greater urgency to have Melancon face hitters, start a minor-league rehab assignment and return to the bigleague mound. Instead, Bochy will not even estimate a date for Melancon to go to the minors and suggested he might be three weeks from activation.

Melancon can pitch with his pronator strain. In fact, he has. But the Giants believe the 32-year-old right-hander can rid himself of the injury with a more methodical rehab.

Melancon will have three years left on a four-year, $62 million deal.

“We just didn’t sign him for this year,” Bochy said. “We’ve got a few years here of him being our closer. That’s why we’re taking time. That’s why we’ve taken a big step back. If we were in a better situation here, he could be out there pitching, or close to pitching. Because of where we’re at, it’s important we make sure he’s right.”

The Giants are approaching Johnny Cueto somewhat the same. However, Bochy does not foresee a long rehab once Cueto can throw without aggravating the blisters on three of his fingers. Cueto has begun to play what Bochy described as “easy catch.”

The Giants have no guarantee that Cueto will return next year, but given the blisters and poor performance in 2017, they have to assume he is less likely to opt out of his contract this winter. If he stays, he is on the books for four more years. Briefly: Wil Myers is the fourth Padre to homer in three consecutive games this season. Only one Giant has done it (Buster Posey) . ... The Giants are 3-4 on their homestand, which concludes with three games against the Pirates . ... The Giants did not need to use interim closer Sam Dyson, who had thrown in four of the five previous games.