The Cubs rotation is close to receiving some reinforcements.

Justin Steele threw 3.1 innings on Wednesday, striking out 4 while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with the Iowa Cubs. His next steps are undetermined, but manager Craig Counsell alluded to a potential start with the big-league club as his next step on Tuesday.

Additionally, Kyle Hendricks will make a rehab start with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday with a pitch count of “75-80,” per Counsell.

Final line for Justin Steele today with the @IowaCubs – 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB.

63 pitches, 41 strikes, 22 balls.

Of the six hits he gave up, only one had an exit velocity over 100 mph.

Also got nine swings and misses.

— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) May 1, 2024

The most important thing for Steele was entering the game in the 4^th inning. Building up the endurance for Steele is a bigger deal at this stage than results against minor-league hitters.

“Felt good to get 4 up-downs, go out there for the fourth time. It was only one pitch, but it was good to warm back up for the 4^th,” Steele said after the game. “It was good step in the process of building back up. Felt like I was a little rusty in the beginning, started getting the rust off as I started throwing more pitches, felt good with all my pitches.”

[WATCH: Justin Steele reacts to rehab outing in Iowa]

Both Steele and Hendricks are much needed for the Cubs pitching staff.

Even amidst his struggles (12.00 ERA, 2.09 WHIP in 5 starts), Hendricks improving and being a part of the rotation is pivotal. While young arms like Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and the now-injured Jordan Wicks have performed well, they’ve never pitched full major-league seasons and as young pitchers will likely be on innings-limits this season.

While Wicks has never pitched over 100 innings in his pro career, Brown has done it once — 104 in 2022. Expecting them to throw even over 120 innings is unrealistic. Having Hendricks return at some semblance of the pitcher he was last year (3.74 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) would be a boon to the Cubs’ pitching staff and not stress their young arms.

[MORE: How Craig Counsell has helped lead Cubs to winningest April in franchise history]

The return of Steele, the Cubs’ ace in 2023, provides another quality option to a front of the rotation that has seen the breakthroughs of Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad, along with the Jameson Taillon, who has been stellar since being activated off the IL.

When Steele and Hendricks return to the rotation, the Cubs could decide to option Wesneski or Brown or move them to the bullpen, allowing them to control their workload a bit better in the minor leagues.