Dodgers activate left-handed reliever Paco Rodriguez

And suddenly, there were left-handers everywhere!

The Dodgers have gone most of the season with only one left-handed reliever, but Saturday they activated their second in as many days.

This time it was Paco Rodriguez, who will now join mainstay J.P. Howell and the returning Scott Elbert in the bullpen.

Rodriguez had been on the disabled list since Aug. 5 because of a back injury similar to the one that sidelined Clayton Kershaw in April. He threw a simulated game Friday and apparently felt no worse for the wear Saturday, so the Dodgers added him to their bullpen mix.

Rodriguez, 23, last pitched in a game for the Dodgers on Aug. 3. He had a sensational 2013 season (2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP), but appeared worn down by the end of it and was not on the team’s playoff roster for the National League Championship Series.

In 13 appearances this season, he had a 4.35 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP, but three of the five earned runs he allowed came in a single outing. He also appeared in 32 games for triple-A Albuquerque, with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

Neither Rodriguez nor Elbert figures to pitch in tight situations if Howell is available, but at least now Manager Don Mattingly has some left-handed options to play with.