(670 The Score) Amid prolonged struggles and bracing for bad injury news, the Cubs were encouraged by feedback they received on injured left-hander Cole Hamels on Tuesday.
An MRI confirmed that Hamels has a left oblique strain, but it's not as bad as initially feared. Already having landed on the injured list, Hamels will continued treatment through the All-Star break, at which point he'll be re-evaluated. The expectation is he'll be out through July, but the fear was he could be out for a couple months, as he was in suffering a similar injury while playing for the Rangers in 2017.
Hamels left his start at Cincinnati on Friday night after one inning discomfort in his side, and the Cubs revealed the extent of the injury after MRI results came back Tuesday.
Hamels has been a rock for the Cubs, going 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 17 starts, so his absence will be felt. The Cubs are currently one game back of the NL Central-leading Brewers, and their goal of winning the division just became more difficult.
"We're hoping that it's not going to take too long," Maddon said on the Laurence Holmes Show earlier Tuesday. "I talked to him yesterday and he's actually feeling a little bit better.
"This guy is so pertinent to our success. I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful human being this fellow is."
The Cubs will have several options to address Hamels' absence. They demoted 24-year-old rookie right-hander Adbert Alzolay to Triple-A Iowa earlier Tuesday, but Maddon also said that he will factor into the Cubs' plans in the second half. Right-hander Tyler Chatwood has also been used as a spot starter this season, though he struggled mightily in his most recent start.
The Cubs don't need a fifth starter until after the All-Star break, as they have an off day this Friday.
