Cole Hamels injury: Phillies ace likely to return next week

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to activate left hander Cole Hamels at some point during their series with the Dodgers next week in Los Angeles, according to CSN Philly's Rueben Frank. Hamels is scheduled to make a rehab start on Thursday for the Clearwater Threshers in Florida.

Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock told Frank that the team isn't looking for a specific number of pitches during the rehab assignment.

They hope to see him put together a quality outing to prove he's ready to return.

Hamels has been sidelined with bicep tendonitis, but the reports on his recovery have been "promising."

The Phillies are currently allowing five-and-a-half runs per game. That's the most in the National League apart from the flailing Diamondbacks. It's still very early in the season, and Cliff Lee currently leads the team in earned runs allowed -- which is extremely unlikely to continue -- but any pitching staff in the league would benefit from an addition like Hamels.

With Lee and free agent signing A.J. Burnett, Philadelphia could have one of the best starter trios in the National League, but Hamels might need some time to settle into a groove.