For the second day in a row the Dodgers brought back a high-leverage reliever, on Saturday activating right-hander Kirby Yates off the injured list, after missing 22 games on the injured list with lower back pain.

That was the second time on the injured list this season for Yates, who missed 18 games in May and June with a right hamstring strain. In between IL stints, Yates saw his strikeout rate decrease to 24.1 percent, down from 38.8 percent in his first 22 appearances. A week ago, after a simulated game at Dodger Stadium, Yates said he felt close to being able to put hitters away more consistently.

“Health feels pretty good, but there’s a baseball aspect to this too. I don’t think I was that great before I went on the IL,” Yates said on August 16. “There are some things I have to get

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