Yasiel Puig to hit third against Cardinals

— -- LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers activated Yasiel Puig from the disabled list Saturday afternoon before their game against the St. Louis Cardinals, bringing back the right fielder after he missed 39 games with a left hamstring strain.

Puig played in two rehab games for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday and Friday. He went 3-for-7 with a double and a home run. After his game Friday, Puig took to Instagram to tell his followers it was his "last day in Lancaster."

He is hitting third in the Dodgers lineup Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

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

Puig's return is needed for the first-place Dodgers. The Dodgers went 21-18 in his absence, and the offense has scored two or fewer runs in 12 of their last 20 games, averaging 3.1 runs per game in that time.

Puig has a .279/.380/.465 slash line with two home runs in 50 plate appearances. He has played in only 11 games this season.