Help is on the way for the Cubs — both offensively and in their relief corps.

Lefty reliever Brandon Hughes (left knee inflammation) and outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) will begin minor league rehab assignments on Saturday with Triple-A Iowa as they inch closer to a return to Chicago.

The Cubs believed that a best-case scenario for Suzuki would have him returning to the majors in mid-April and this next steps falls in line with that. For Suzuki, right now, it’s all about building back up the endurance to get back into game shape. He’s been taking at-bats in minor league games in Arizona and in live batting practices at the team’s facility in Mesa. Suzuki also has played defense in games there, too.

“Now it’s just about getting the consistent at-bats, making sure he feels good with his timing,” manager David Ross said. “Just talked earlier this morning with somebody that saw his at-bats in-person, live. It looked like he could be ready soon.

“We’ll just continue to monitor that and how he’s feeling and kinda take that. We’ll give him these two games in St. Paul with Iowa and then kinda reassess then.”

If and when he’s able to return, it creates some roster questions for the Cubs as Suzuki will no doubt be the team’s everyday right fielder. Trey Mancini, who has played 2 games in right field, will likely return to platooning at first with Eric Hosmer and manning the DH role on a more regular basis. Patrick Wisdom will return to primarily playing third base.

The corresponding move to clear a roster spot for Suzuki could come in the form of either righty Nick Madrigal or lefty Miles Mastrobuoni.

Mastrobuoni has played 3 games in right field this season and has hit the ball hard, but the numbers have not backed it up (.091 batting average going into Friday’s game vs. a .253 expected batting average, per Baseball Savant). He has positional versatility but also has options remaining.

Madrigal has appeared in 3 games this year and has gone 1-for-6 (.167) in that time. He can play third base and back up Nico Hoerner at second. Barring injury, it’s possible one of the two are optioned to make room for Suzuki.

Hughes will pitch with Iowa on Saturday. He had left knee inflammation during Spring Training that delayed his progress through camp, but he began pitching in live batting practices and simulated games in the last few days before Opening Day. The Cubs believed at the end of spring that Hughes could have pitched with the big-league team to start the season, if necessary, but didn’t think it was the best course of action for him long term.

“I think we have real information on Hughesy on what we’re trying to get him back to mechanically with the knee and the data will support that when he’s right,” Ross said. “And we’re getting close to that.”

To make room for Hughes, the Cubs could option Javier Assad to Iowa and stretch him back out to be a starter. Both Keegan Thompson and Adbert Alzolay have pitched multiple innings in outings this season, so the Cubs can keep the pair to cover innings and have a lefty in their bullpen in Hughes.