Gonzalez is undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a herniated disc in his lower back, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The procedure comes with a 16-week recovery estimate, per Baggarly, which means that Gonzalez is sure to miss at least the first half of the 2023 season. He was bothered by back issues for much of the 2022 campaign and slashed just .254/.323/.360 across 350 plate appearances for San Francisco. At least the 27-year-old outfielder can now look forward to putting those back troubles in the past whenever he does finish up the lengthy rehab process.

Gonzalez (back) traveled to Los Angeles on Monday to receive a second opinion on his injury from a spine specialist, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez mentioned just over a week ago that he had noticed improvement in his recovery from the lower-back strain that has kept him from playing throughout the spring, so it's possible that his meeting with the specialist may be for the purpose of mapping out of his next steps rather than the result of any sort of setback. Whatever the case, Gonzalez is running out of time to prove his health during spring training, and unless he's cleared to return to game action next week, he appears destined to begin the season on the injured list.

Gonzalez (back) said Sunday that he believes he can be ready for Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez struggled with back injuries last season and was diagnosed with a lower-back strain shortly after arriving to Giants camp this spring, but he's making steady progress now. Nonetheless, Slusser guesses that the 27-year-old outfielder will not be part of the active roster out of camp because of all the time lost. He'll presumably spend at least a couple of weeks rehabbing at Triple-A Sacramento.

Gonzalez was diagnosed with a lower-back strain Sunday and is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old battled back issues last season and spent the final stretch of the campaign on the injured list with a back strain, so it's concerning he'll open 2023 in similar fashion. Gonzalez isn't likely to be healthy in time for Opening Day, and his spot on the major-league roster isn't guaranteed once healthy given the offseason additions of Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto to the outfield mix.

Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a low back strain Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez left Friday's game early due to a back injury, and he'll be forced to miss at least a week and a half. He'll be eligible to return during the Giants' final regular-season series, although it's not yet clear whether he'll be activated at that point since the team is unlikely to make the playoffs. Ford Proctor was recalled to take Gonzalez's place on the active roster.

Gonzalez (back) went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in Friday's 5-0 loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez accounted for one of the Giants' three baserunners in the game. He missed one game with back soreness, but it's evidently a minor issue after he was able to replace LaMonte Wade (side) for Friday's game. Gonzalez has gone 5-for-20 (.250) across his last eight games, but he'll likely be limited to the strong side of a platoon in right field. He's slashing a middling .252/.322/.361 through 93 contests.

Gonzalez (back) will start in right field and bat ninth Friday against the Dodgers, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old has been battling back soreness this week, but he'll join the lineup Friday after LaMonte Wade was scratched with side tightness. Gonzalez has a .189/.268/.243 slash line in 14 games since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in late August.

Gonzalez isn't starting Wednesday against Atlanta due to a stiff back, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez started the last four games, and manager Gabe Kapler said that the 27-year-old would have been in Wednesday's lineup if he was healthy. It's not yet clear whether Gonzalez will be available off the bench Wednesday, but he'll be able to rest Thursday since the Giants have a scheduled day off.

Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez will rest in the series finale after he went 2-for-9 with a walk and an RBI while starting each of the past four games. Though he still looks like the Giants' fourth outfielder behind Joc Pederson, Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade, Gonzalez should continue to get the opportunity to play semi-regularly while Wade often makes cameos at first base.

Gonzalez isn't starting Friday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Gonzalez has started against a pair of left-handed pitchers since the start of September, but he'll head to the bench Friday with southpaw Drew Smyly on the mound for the Cubs. Mike Yastrzemski is starting in right field and batting sixth.