Cole Hamels Set to Begin Rehab Assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Iowa

Fear not, Cubs fans. Reinforcements are on the way.

Cole Hamels, who hit the injured list at the end of June due to an oblique injury, is set to begin his rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa.

Starting pitching hasn't been a strength for the Cubs. Since June 29 when he sustained the injury, the starting staff has posted a mediocre 4.30 FIP.

Hamels had been a vital part of the Cubs' starting rotation this year prior to the injury. His 2.89 ERA and 3.59 FIP both stand as the lowest among the team's five qualified starters, and he still has the most fWAR (2.3) despite making the fewest starts of the bunch.

The veteran southpaw suffered a similar injury in 2017 during his time with the Texas Rangers and ultimately ended up being sidelined for two months. Hearing that he's set to begin a rehab stint ahead of the trade deadline is reassuring.

It also gives the Cubs a little bit more peace of mind. The Milwaukee Brewers are bearing down on them in the NL Central, entering play on Monday just two games back. It'll take an all-hands-on-deck mentality from the Cubs to keep them at arms length.

If he can come back healthy and at full strength, the Cubs will be tough to take on in the final push for a spot in the postseason.