Longoria to have surgery

LOS ANGELES — Third baseman Evan Longoria said Saturday he will undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday to stabilize the fracture in the fifth metacarpal of his left hand.

Dr. Stephen Shin, who will perform the operation, told Longoria the ideal recovery time is six to eight weeks. Longoria wants to be back much sooner, shortly after the AllStar break.

“I would love to,” Longoria said. “You go crazy sitting around and watching the game. I didn’t even know what to do.”

Longoria has spent little of his career as an observer. He leads the majors with 865 games played since the start of 2013. Marlins starter Dan

Straily sent him to the disabled list with a fourth-inning fastball to the hand Thursday.

Longoria said his fracture is not as bad as Madison Bumgarner’s. Longoria will not have surgically installed pins sticking out of his hand as the

pitcher did. Any hardware in Longoria’s hand will stay there.

In fact, Shin told Longoria he would not have required surgery had he not been a professional athlete. The fracture would heal on its own after three weeks in a cast, but the lack of motion causes muscular atrophy.

The surgery will allow Longoria to move his hand and keep it strong as soon as he can tolerate pain, likely a matter of days.

Pablo Sandoval will get most of the starts at third in Longoria’s absence. Alen Hanson will play there, too. Hanson also could get some time at short next week when Brandon

Crawford begins paternity leave Monday. Manager Bruce Bochy was unsure how many days off Crawford will need for the birth of his and Jalynne’s fourth child. Kelby Tomlinson likely will be recalled to replace him.

Samardzija schedule: Jeff Samardzija (shoulder tightness) could pitch for the Giants in about 10 days after making one more rehab start of about 70 pitches in the minors, Bochy said after getting good reports on the Shark’s first game for Sacramento on Friday night.

Samardzija threw 43 pitches in three hitless innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Bochy said Samardzija’s velocity was back to normal, 93-95 mph, with good command.

“It was a good day for him,” Bochy said.

Johnny Cueto (elbow sprain) will throw to hitters Monday and probably begin a two-game rehab stint a few days later.

Roster move: The Giants optioned reliever Pierce Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento after a one-game promotion to clear a roster spot for Brandon Belt.