Dodgers activate Yasiel Puig from DL, option Scott Schebler to Triple-A

LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig got his wish and was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, rejoining the Dodgers after missing 39 games with a left hamstring strain.

Puig is batting third and playing right field for the Dodgers on Saturday night against the Cardinals.

Puig was 3-for-7 with a home run, a double and a walk in two minor league rehab games for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday and Friday, telling reporters on both days that he planned to play for the Dodgers this weekend, an idea that manager Don Mattingly did not dismiss on Friday.

"His workouts have been really good," Mattingly said. "Before the game he was running at a pace, and all the reports were very encouraging."

To make room for Puig, outfielder Scott Schebler was optioned back to Triple-A after just one day in the majors. Schebler singled in his first major league at-bat on Friday night.

The infusion of Puig comes at a welcome time for the Dodgers, who have scored two or fewer runs in 12 of their last 20 games, and in 12 of their last 16 games outside of the mile-high Coors Field.

Puig is hitting .279/.380/.465 with two home runs, two doubles, four RBI and five walks this season.

Puig last played for the Dodgers on April 24, and has played in only 11 of 55 games this season. Amazingly, thanks to rookie Joc Pederson and the resurgence of Andre Ethier, the Dodgers outfield has remained productive, hitting .258/.348/.491 as a group with 32 home runs and a .361 wOBA, tops in the majors in slugging percentage, home runs and wRC+ (132), second in OPS, wOBA and OPS+ (129), and third in slugging percentage.