BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Cal Ripken's pursuit of 400 homers and 3,000 hits can resume.

The Baltimore Orioles today activated the star third baseman from the 15-day disabled list and he is in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Ripken, just one homer shy of 400 and 32 hits shy of 3,000, has not played since July 31 at Seattle. He was placed on the DL on August 3 with nerve irritation of his lower back.

It was is the second trip to the DL for baseball's iron man, who voluntarily ended his consecutive games streak at 2,632 last September.

The irritation in the back landed Ripken on the DL for the first time in his career on April 20.

The future Hall of Famer entered the season just 122 hits shy of 3,000 and appeared on course to be one of three players to reach the milestone this season. Tony Gywnn and Wade Boggs reached the plateau last month.

The Orioles have 34 games left in the season for Ripken to reach 3,000 hits.

A 17-time All-Star, Ripken is hitting .335 with 15 homers and 47 RBI. After a slow start, he has been one of the Orioles' most effective hitters. Before the injury, Ripken had hit safely in 18 of his last 20 games.

Earlier this summer, the Orioles picked up Ripken's $6.3 million contract option for 2000.

It has been a difficult year off the field for Ripken. His father, former Orioles coach and manager Cal Ripken Sr., died of lung cancer March 25.

On September 20, 1998, the younger Ripken opted to end his streak when he sat out against the New York Yankees. This year, he missed a game due to injury for the first time since he was beaned by Seattle's Mike Moore in May 1982.

Ripken captured the nation's attention in 1995 as he chased Lou Gehrig's seemingly unbreakable record of 2,130 consecutive games, finally passing the Yankees' legend on September 6.

The Orioles also activated pitcher Mike Fetters from the 15-day disabled list. Fetters underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow in June and is 1-0 with a 5.48 ERA in 20 relief outings.