ST. LOUIS -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he is "hopeful" second baseman Marco Scutaro will be able to play in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday after Scutaro sustained a left hip strain and contusion on a hard take-out slide by the St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday in Game 2.

An MRI revealed the strain. Scutaro's left knee is also sore, Bochy said, and he is being considered day-to-day.

"He'll get treatment today and we'll know where he's at tomorrow," Bochy said before the Giants gathered for a team workout at Busch Stadium. "But that's what we're hopeful for."

Bochy said Scutaro "mentioned doing a few things" in Tuesday's workout, but the team said no to allow him to rest.

Scutaro was hurt in the first inning of the Giants' 7-1 win when Holliday slid hard into his left leg breaking up a double play. Scutaro got off a throw to first that was just late and stayed on the ground in pain for several minutes.

Bochy reiterated Tuesday that he thinks Holliday made an "illegal slide." Holliday reportedly expressed remorse Monday night over not starting his slide earlier, but emphasized that he did not intend to hurt Scutaro.

"I don't think there was intent, to be honest, hurting somebody," Bochy said Tuesday. "But it was late. And I explained my reasons last night. Marco was behind the bag, (Holliday) really didn't hit dirt until he got behind the base. And the second baseman, he's in a position there where there can be some damage done, as we saw."

Bochy said when he went out to check on Scutaro after the play, he was told by the umpire that Holliday's slide was legal and that his momentum carried him over the bag.

Scutaro stayed in the game long enough to deliver a bases-loaded single in the Giants' four-run fourth, and was replaced by Ryan Theriot before the sixth inning. If Scutaro cannot play Wednesday, Bochy said, it will be Theriot at second.

Several players said after the game they found Scutaro's toughness inspiring. Bochy, though, said he wants the Giants to put the incident behind them.

"What's on our mind is to go out and play our best ball in the ballgame," he said. "That's over. You have to move on."

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