As expected, Kris Bryant will join Class AAA Iowa on Monday for a rehab assignment. And if all goes well, the Cubs won’t shy away from finding a way to bring Bryant back before the rosters expand Sept. 1.

“I think we can,” manager Joe Maddon said slyly.

Before the game Sunday against the Reds, Bryant took more batting practice, and then, along with Victor Caratini, swung against Drew Smyly, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Maddon didn’t close the door on Bryant returning as early as Tuesday, though he did wonder how Bryant’s body might react to his first game action in more than a month.

“You get sore, so you’ve got to work through the soreness and stiffness,” Maddon said. “As he feels good about that, that will tell us a lot.”

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Rotation issues

Alec Mills will start Wednesday after his outing Friday in which he went 5 2/3 innings, allowed one run and struck out eight. Maddon said Mike Montgomery (left shoulder inflammation) is expected to start Thursday in Atlanta, giving the Cubs a six-man rotation for one turn.

“If [Mills] can replicate that somewhat next time out and then you could possibly count on him later to do something like that, that could be large,” Maddon said. “Very large.”

I-Cubs

Brian Duensing (left shoulder inflammation) allowed three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning for Iowa.

Tyler Chatwood (left hip tightness) is joining Iowa for a rehab assignment.