The Cubs are expected to go with a four-man rotation if they make the playoffs, but the possibility exists they’ll use all five starters if necessary.
No team has done it before, but few teams have had five starters as talented as the Cubs’.
“They can [use five],” Mark Prior said. “Who says they won’t? I don’t know how it’s going to get structured.
“We’ve got [13] games left, and a lot of things are yet to be determined. Hopefully we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
If the rotation remains the same for the final two weeks, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux would be on schedule to start the final three regular-season games against Atlanta at Wrigley Field.
The playoffs start two days later on Oct. 5, meaning either Prior or Matt Clement would have enough rest to start Game 1 of the division series, with Wood and Zambrano in Games 2 and 3. If the Cubs clinch the wild-card spot before the final weekend, manager Dusty Baker could use Glendon Rusch against the Braves and save Zambrano or Maddux for Game 1.
Everything is speculation since the Cubs are in a tight race. Plus Clement has struggled in three of his last four outings, lasting only 2 1 1/43 innings Monday, so he may be the odd man out.
Prior has said he doesn’t mind if he’s in the playoff bullpen.
“Think what you want,” he said. “I honestly don’t care. If they want me to start, start me and I’ll go out and do everything I can to win the ballgame. If they want me to come in in long relief, I’ll do that. If they want me to close, I’ll do that.”
– – –
W: Weathers (7-7) L: Clement (9-13)
HRs: Cubs- Barrett (16) Fla- Easley (8)
Tuesday’s starters: Kerry Wood (8-7, 3.54) vs. Josh Fogg (9-10, 4.82). Wood has not faced the Pirates this year and was 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA last year. Fogg is looking to become the first Pirates pitcher since Jason Schmidt (1997-99) to post three consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins.
Notable: Nomar Garciaparra, sidelined since Sept. 11 with a strained right groin, might return to the starting lineup sometime during the series in Pittsburgh beginning Tuesday, Dusty Baker said
Home games remaining:
Cincinnati (4), Atlanta (3)
Away games remaining:
Pittsburgh (3), N.Y. Mets (3)
