Smardzija goes from minor leaguer to postseason roster

MILWAUKEE - Cubs manager Lou Piniella confirmed Saturday that rookie right-hander Jeff Samardzija has made the roster for the National League division series.

"I think basically, for the most part, pitching wise, we've made all the decisions we need to make," Piniella said. "Unless there's an injury, I think we're pretty decided. Yeah, Samardzija's going to be on."

Samardzija, a rookie out of Notre Dame, worked as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues before his July 25 call-up. In 26 games, Samardzija is 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA, 1 save and 3 blown saves.

He has given up 24 hits and 15 walks in 27 innings for a WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) of 1.41. Samardzija's WHIP for September is 2.28, based on 11 hits and 8 walks in 8 innings.

Doing the math, that appears to make Chad Gaudin the odd man out for the NLDS.

Gaudin has struggled since a back injury felled him after his Aug. 29 outing. He didn't return until Sept. 21. So far this month he's 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA, giving up 8 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) in 3 innings.

Zambrano out, Guzman in: When asked about a starting pitcher for today's game, Lou Piniella tossed a question at reporters.

"How about Zambrano?" he said referring to one-time ace Carlos Zambrano, who will start Game 2 of the NLDS. "An inning or two."

It didn't turn out that way, and it sounds like Zambrano didn't want to do it. Instead, the Cubs will send Angel Guzman to the mound today and then use most of their bullpen.

"The ball will be in somebody's locker," Piniella said right after Saturday's game but before Guzman was announced. "We're going to pitch a lot of people tomorrow.

"(Zambrano) would rather long-toss tomorrow and then have a good throw day on Monday, a good throw day off the mound Monday and then get ready to pitch Thursday. That's his preference. He feels that's a better scenario for him, and what we're interested in is what's good for him."

With the import of today's game on the wild-card race, Piniella said he would use a regular lineup against lefty CC Sabathia.

Presumably, that means Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano will play after sitting Saturday.

DeRosa not close: Don't look for infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa today. DeRosa is still bothered by a strained left calf, and the Cubs want him ready for Game 1 of the playoffs.

Catcher Geovany Soto appeared fine after coming out of Friday night's game because his left hand bothered him again.

"If we had a playoff game today, he could play," Lou Piniella said of Soto. "DeRosa, if we had a playoff game today, I'm not so sure he could play. We still have today, tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday. He's a little bit more of an 'if' than Soto. He can't play tomorrow, either."

Piniella added that DeRosa hasn't suffered a setback, but the trainers told him Wednesday when he got hurt that it would be 4-5 days.