Cole Hamels took another step towards joining Atlanta’s rotation after throwing live batting practice at the Braves’ alternate training site on Friday afternoon.

Hamels simulated three innings as he completed a 43-pitch session without any discomfort. The 36-year-old lefty has thrown live batting practice twice within the past five days, and there is now a chance he will be activated from the injured list to make a start as soon as Wednesday in Baltimore.

“Everything went great,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It went about as well as we could have hoped. He felt great. We’ll wait to see how he feels tomorrow. That will be the big key. In talking to him the other day, he was going to get after this like his first outing in Spring Training.”

Having missed Spring Training with left shoulder inflammation and most of Summer Camp with left triceps tendinitis, Hamels has not pitched against an opposing team since Sept. 28, 2019. But the pitching-needy Braves may end up giving him three regular-season starts over the season’s final two weeks.

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This isn’t necessarily ideal given the fact the Braves are in a playoff race. But this is not a team well suited for the postseason with its current rotation. So it makes sense to give Hamels a chance to add yet another unique development to 2020.

“If he comes in feeling good tomorrow, then I think he’s looking good for some time next week,” Snitker said.

If Hamels stays on schedule, he would be lined up to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Orioles. Max Fried will also be eligible to come off the injured list that day.

By giving Hamels that start, the Braves could give Fried an additional two days to recover from the back spasms that he battled during Saturday's start against the Nationals.

Even if Fried is pushed back to start the Sept. 18 series opener against the Mets at Citi Field, he would still have time to make two starts before the postseason begins.

“[Fried] is playing catch, and everything is trending in the right direction,” Snitker said.