Dodgers give Yasiel Puig an extra day of rest before activating him

The Dodgers chose to delay Yasiel Puig’s return to the major leagues by 24 hours, and now intend to activate him from the disabled list before Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

The decision stemmed, in part, from the Nationals’ plan to start tough right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Monday, Manager Dave Roberts said before the game. Washington scratched Strasburg because of a back strain, but Puig still received an extra day of rest.

Puig missed two weeks because of a hamstring strain. The organization focused on streamlining his swing during that period, hoping to remove excess movement that made him exploitable by opposing pitchers.

Team officials reported optimism with his progress during a rehabilitation assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, where Puig showed an ability to hit balls to the opposite field.

Roberts would not commit to a route for returning Puig to the roster. The Dodgers are operating with a nine-man bullpen, which could be trimmed to make room for Puig. The team recalled reliever Carlos Frias on Sunday in exchange for fifth starter Mike Bolsinger.

Rotation in flux

After Julio Urias starts on Wednesday, the Dodgers face a series of decisions about their rotation. Roberts has said the team will determine how to use Urias after that outing, but he emphasized Monday that the team has not officially decided to shut him down for a period of time.

“We haven’t made that decision,” Roberts said. “There’s nothing definitive after this start. No finality at all. We’ve talked about it, but there’s nothing final.”

The team also has to decide how to fill the fifth spot of its rotation. The spot comes up Friday in Pittsburgh. The Dodgers could skip that spot, though they have shown a preference for giving their pitchers extra days of rest.

The leading candidate appeared to be prospect Frankie Montas, but he has been placed on the triple-A disabled list because of irritation in the area of incision from his rib-cage surgery from this past winter.

The Dodgers may need to turn to Frias, who posted a 4.06 earned-run average in 77 2/3 innings last season.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes