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Hamels heading to IL after oblique injury during warm-up pitches

Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Chicago Cubs' rotation took a big hit Friday when left-hander Cole Hamels exited a game against the Cincinnati Reds with a left oblique strain.

Hamels will be placed on the injured list after suffering the ailment during warm-up pitches before the bottom of the second inning, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said postgame, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.

The veteran southpaw will undergo an MRI on Saturday.

Hamels believes the oblique injury won't cause him to miss two months like a similar one to his right side did in 2017.

"I do," he replied when asked if his injury was less severe than his previous one, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. "I don't think it's going to be as bad, but I know after experiencing it once and seeing what type of results I was then continuing to put up ... I want to make sure when I come back everything's the way it should be ..."

Hamels was replaced by Mike Montgomery, who wound up allowing five earned runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings during a 6-3 loss for the Cubs.

The 35-year-old entered Friday's contest in the midst of a stellar first half of the season, posting a 2.92 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 16 starts.

The Cubs are already without starter Kyle Hendricks.

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