LOS ANGELES -- Infielder Wilmer Flores, sufficiently healed from a strained right hamstring, was activated from the injured list after the minimum 10 days on Saturday. Flores was back in the lineup for the third game of the series at Dodger Stadium, playing first base and hitting fifth.

It was a welcome development for the Giants, who currently have three other first basemen on the injured list. Brandon Belt is expected to be out until mid-June with a mild left oblique strain. Darin Ruf, who hit the IL with a right hamstring strain on Thursday, isn’t expected to return until late June. Tommy La Stella is on the 60-day IL with a left hamstring strain until at least July.

• Injuries & Roster Moves

“It does improve our bench, and I think it's a step closer to kind of getting the group back together,” manager Gabe Kapler said of Flores’ return. “And I know that we're a ways away from having Tommy La Stella back, and now we're a couple of weeks away from having Darin Ruf back. But every time we activate somebody from the IL -- a core piece of our team, somebody that we expected to contribute -- it's encouraging and gets us closer to full strength.”

Flores got off to a strong start, going 3-for-3 with an RBI before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. In 42 games this season prior to Saturday, including 29 starts, Flores is batting .219/.308/.343 with three home runs. The 29-year-old has two hits, including a homer, and two walks in 12 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter. He has appeared at first, second and third base this season, and he figures to get the bulk of the team’s starts at first base for the time being.

Besides Flores, LaMonte Wade Jr, recalled Friday, is the Giants’ other primary option at first base. Flores is a right-handed hitter, while Wade bats lefty, and though the Giants aren’t likely to go with a straight platoon, Wade should still get his opportunities. Wade started at first in the 8-5 win Friday, picking up a hit and two walks whale capably handling a couple of tricky plays on defense.

“He looked pretty natural over there,” catcher Buster Posey said of Wade. “If he had any nerves, he sure didn't look like he was nervous. He had a good amount of action, and it was definitely a big boost for us for him to be able to slot in right there.”

In addition to Flores, right-hander Logan Webb was activated for Saturday’s start. Right-hander Nick Tropeano and utility man Jason Vosler were optioned as the corresponding moves.

Posey’s milestone
When Mike Tauchman robbed Albert Pujols of a walk-off home run on Friday, it also stole the spotlight from Posey.

The catcher’s three-run blast in the top of the eighth was career homer No. 150. He ranks 11th in San Francisco Giants history, 15 behind Jeff Kent and 16 behind Will Clark.

Upon returning to the dugout, Posey, normally emotionally reserved on the field, was smiling a bit more than usual. On Saturday, Posey confirmed that he was “having some fun” with a group of fans near the Giants’ dugout.

“Was I being heckled?” said Posey. “It’s Dodger Stadium. I'll let you surmise.”