Panik, 24, is hitting .312 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 100 games this season, but has been plagued by a lower-back issue since late July and had a setback last week. He underwent an MRI Monday.
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Pence has been in and out of the lineup all year — he’s played in just 52 games — and with the Giants falling to 7 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West it may be more prudent to let him heal.
