SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. >> There’s never an ideal moment to sustain an injury, but in Jung Hoo Lee’s case, the timing is especially unfortunate.

The Giants are less than a week from Opening Day, and Lee hasn’t played in more than a week due to a nagging back ailment. Lee, though, says he believes it’s “realistic” that he will be ready for San Francisco’s first game of the season.

“I want to look at the season as a long season,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han. “Of course, Opening Day is very important. If I’m ready to play for Opening Day, of course I’m going to be on the field. I do want to mention that Opening Day is just one game out of 162 games. I’m looking at this as a long run. If I’m ready, I’ll be there. If not, if there’s more time for me to (recover), I would like to use that time, for sure.”

Lee won’t be in the lineup for the Giants’ final two Cactus League games on Friday and today, but he hopes to play in Sunday’s exhibition against the River Cats in Sacramento. The 26-year-old outfielder is scheduled to perform baseball activities — playing catch, taking swings — today. Lee, whose recent MRI revealed no structural damage, said he has not heard about the possibility of starting the season on the injured list.

Manager Bob Melvin said on Wednesday that he would be most comfortable if Lee was able to play three games prior to Opening Day. Once the Giants wrap up Cactus League play, they will have three games, exactly, before traveling to Cincinnati: Sunday’s exhibition against the River Cats and two exhibitions at Oracle Park against the Detroit Tigers on Monday and Tuesday. Melvin said the Giants will determine whether Lee plays against Detroit following the game against Sacramento, pointing out that the team has an off day on Wednesday before Opening Day on Thursday.

“I’m OK with three games for him,” Melvin said.

Lee’s injury, officially categorized as mid-back tightness, derived from him sleeping on it wrong. He was scratched from the Giants’ game on March 15 and hasn’t appeared since. Lee said he’s woke up with occasional back cramps in the past just like any other person, but he’s never experienced them lingering this long.

“Not even (just) for sports players, I feel like normal people when they wake up sometimes, they’re in a bad position for the whole day,” Lee said. “They might wake up with a cramp. I’ve had that before, but it’s never been (as bad) as this. I’ve never had this feeling.”

Lee, who will likely see more time batting third than leadoff, didn’t miss a beat this spring despite playing only 37 games last season due to a season-ending left shoulder injury. Over 12 games, Lee has a .300 batting average and .967 OPS with two homers and five RBIs. Lee said at the beginning of spring that he was not yet back to 100% confidence, but his results this spring have helped in that department.

“This offseason back in Korea, there was stuff I really wanted to work on,” said Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million deal last spring. “When you put a lot of time in during the offseason, come in for spring training, then use that during the game, that’s when you find your confidence. So, I hope to feel this confidence during the season.”

Beck, Meckler among latest wave of cuts >> The Giants announced their latest wave of cuts prior to Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, optioning right-hander Tristan Beck and outfielder Wade Meckler and re-assigning infielder Jake Lamb, catcher Logan Porter and left-hander Enny Romero to minor league camp.

Beck, 28, was diagnosed with an aneurysm last spring training that forced him to miss most of last season, but the right-hander has enjoyed a healthy spring this year. He’s appeared in five games, allowing four earned runs over 7 2/3 innings (4.70 ERA) with four strikeouts, three walks and a home run allowed.

“Tristan’s 100% now and kind of doing his thing is great based on what he went through last year,” Melvin said. “Unfortunately, there’s some guys ahead of him right now. But, as we’ve seen in the past, his versatility is going to play for him at some point, whether it’s starting, whether it’s long relief, whether it’s short relief. He’s one of the guys that creates some versatility for us. Just not some room right now.”

Meckler, like Beck, was behind other outfielders on the Giants depth chart. The 24-year-old sustained a mild neck strain after diving for a ball in early March but appeared in 19 Cactus League games, hitting .250 with a .650 OPS.

“He had a good spring,” Melvin said. “Kind of what we’re targeting around here: the tenacious type of player, gets on base, can run a little bit. He’s played way better in the outfield this spring. He’s got a lot to feel good about. Just some guys ahead of him right now too.”

Encarnacion injured >> With Lee’s availability for Opening Day already up in the air, the status of Jerar Encarnacion is also unclear after he exited Friday afternoon’s game against the Cleveland Guardians due to an apparent injury to his left ring finger after diving for a ball in right field.

“He was just trying to lay out and make a good play and caught his fingers underneath,” Melvin said.

Encarnacion, 27, projects to make the Giants’ Opening Day roster as a bench bat who can play first base and both corner outfield positions. He’s solidified his spot on this team with an excellent spring, hitting .302 with two homers, a team-high 14 RBIs and an .856 OPS over 20 Cactus League games this spring.

If Encarnacion begins the season on the injured list, one of the candidates who could fill Encarnacion’s specific role is David Villar. The 28-year-old is out of options, meaning the Giants must designate him for assignment if he’s not on the Opening Day roster. This spring, Villar is hitting .190/.261/.381 with two homers and four RBIs.

Webb wraps up spring >> Solely from the perspective of strike-to-ball ratio, Logan Webb’s outing against the Guardians was his worst outing of the spring. Webb, though, will gladly take the results in his Cactus League finale: 5 2/3 innings, one earned run, one walk, seven strikeouts.

Over five starts this spring, Webb posted a 1.77 ERA with 22 strikeouts to three walks over 20 1/3 innings, a far cry from the 10.97 ERA that he posted last spring.

“I fully expected myself to have a 10 ERA this spring,” Webb said. “I joke around with guys that I’m not a very good spring pitcher, but I’m excited with how things have gone, and hopefully, just take it into the season.”