Hammel will pitch in either Game 3 or Game 4 of the NLCS, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Joe Maddon hasn't decided on his Game 3 starter yet, but it's probably more likely to be Kyle Hendricks than Hammel, who struggled in the NLDS clincher. Even if he doesn't get the call in Game 3, Hammel will still start Game 4.

Hammel will start Game 4 of the NLDS on Tuesday against the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel looked strong in his final outing of the regular season, tossing five shutout innings with five strikeouts and no walks to end the year with a 3.74 ERA. Barring an emergency relief appearance in Monday's Game 3, he'll take the hill Tuesday for the fourth playoff start of his career.

Hammel lasted just four innings Saturday, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

He's got just one quality start in five September outings, and Hammel's 6.46 ERA on the month could cost him a spot in the postseason rotation, should the Cubs make it past the wild card game. He'll get one more chance to turn things around Thursday in Cincinnati.

Hammel earned his ninth win despite a shaky start Tuesday against Milwaukee, as he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel has just one quality start in his past five outings and has seen his ERA rise from 3.35 to 3.79 in that span. He did induce 13 swinging strikes, but he also needed 104 pitches just to get through the fifth inning. Hammel still owns a sweet 4.1 K/BB, but he hasn't been on his game consistently for at least the past month.

Hammel will have his next scheduled start bumped back to Tuesday against the Pirates, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel would have been scheduled to pitch on normal rest Sunday against the Phillies, but manager Joe Maddon is electing to push him back to Tuesday's doubleheader to face the Pirates.

Hammel allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over six innings in his eighth win Tuesday against St. Louis. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Hammel went over six innings for just the second time in his past 11 starts. But he looked tired in the seventh inning, as he walked a batter, served up a two-run home run, and issued another walk to three hitters before he was pulled. Hammel has seen his ERA jump from 2.82 to 3.59 over his past nine starts, a span in which he has given up nine home runs in just 38.1 innings (2.1 HR/9).

Hammel struck out four and did not walk a batter while allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings against the Reds on Wednesday afternoon.

EDGE Analysis

The bullpen took over after Hammel had thrown just 80 pitches, and it's become a trend recently that he's become more susceptible to an early hook. Hammel is currently positioned for two road starts next week, the first will come Tuesday against the Cardinals before a September 13 turn against the Phillies.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel is in line to start Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds after being removed from his last start because of a hamstring issue, according to the Chicago Tribune. Hammel was cleared after throwing a 50-pitch bullpen session Saturday.

Hammel (hamstring) played catch in the outfield prior to Saturday's game, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports. He was not wearing any sleeves or protection over his hamstring, which is a good sign, and it remains quite possible that he could slot into the back of the Cubs' rotation after the All-Star break.

An MRI did not reveal any structural issues with Hammel's injured hamstring, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Cubs hope to have Hammel available after the All-Star break, but the injury may push him back to fourth or fifth in the rotation order, which means his first start of the second half will likely come in Cincinnati. Aside from the hamstring injury, Hammel had an excellent first half of the season, posting a 5-4 record, 2.86 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 105:18 K:BB ratio over 103.2 innings (17 starts).