Giants right-hander Matt Cain is back on the disabled list for the third time this season, the team announced Thursday.
Cain, 31, was placed on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain, and the club activated reliever Cory Gearrin. Cain first landed on the DL at the end of May after he strained his right hamstring, then returned to the DL after just one start in June when he reaggravated the injury.
Cain's ailment is the latest in a string of frustrating setbacks for the San Francisco righty. After averaging 32 starts per year from 2006-13, Cain averaged just 13 starts over the 2014-15 campaigns while dealing with elbow and hamstring injuries.