Cubs' Lester to start Game 1, will wait to see on Hendricks

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks warmed up Thursday afternoon in the bullpen as he again tested his right forearm.

Hendricks suffered a bruise during his Game 2 start of the National League division series, when he was hit by a line drive of the bat of the Giants' Angel Pagan.

The only thing certain for the Cubs is that lefty Jon Lester will start Saturday night's Game 1 of the championship series at Wrigley Field.

Manager Joe Maddon likes the way both Lester and Hendricks performed at home this year, but the Cubs want to wait to see how Hendricks feels.

"He's doing well" Maddon said as the Cubs worked out. "He threw the other day, felt good. Bos (pitching coach Chris Bosio) said he felt good today, so he's in good shape.

"I still like the concept of Jon and Kyle in this ballpark, but we've just got to wait and make sure everything's in order."

If Hendricks cannot go Sunday in Game 2, the Cubs likely would move up Jake Arrieta, who pitched Game 3 of the division series in San Francisco.

Eleven or 12?

The Cubs carried 11 pitchers in the NLDS. They used six relievers in the Game 3 loss, which went 13 innings. Lefty Mike Montgomery soaked up 4 innings at the end.

It's possible the Cubs could add a pitcher for the NLCS, and rookie left-hander Rob Zastryzny could be in the mix.

"Theo and I talked briefly about that," Joe Maddon said. "It's a consideration. Part of that might be about what happens (Thursday night between the Dodgers and Nationals), also. We have different thoughts and ideas out there on the table."

Why he's here:

Second baseman-outfielder Ben Zobrist earned a World Series ring last year with the Kansas City Royals. He signed a four-year deal with the Cubs last off-season to get a ring in Chicago.

"That's the goal right now, that's what's ahead of us," Zobrist said. "We wanted to be at this point. This is exactly where I envisioned our team being when I was deciding who to sign with, what that might look like. So far, that's come to pass. We still have our work cut out for us. My ultimate goal in signing here is just to win a championship. That's what everybody's here is. We're close to that. We have a chance to do that now."

One more workout:

The Cubs and their NLCS opponents will work out Friday at Wrigley Field. Both games this weekend will begin at 7:08 p.m. Chicago time, as will the middle three (if necessary) road games for the Cubs.