By Chico Harlan and Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 2, 2008

He is, at once, the Chicago Cubs' ace and their unknown.

Just as easily, Carlos Zambrano can dazzle or destruct. Last month, he followed the best start of his life -- a Sept. 14 no-hitter -- with two of his worst, in which he pitched a combined 6 1/3 innings and was shelled for 13 earned runs.

The back-and-forth gave Chicagoans a dizzying uncertainty, and left them with one question that will shape the Cubs' offseason: Is Zambrano healthy and ready?

Tonight, he starts for the Cubs -- a controversial sign of faith, if only because other Chicago pitchers, especially 17-game winner Ted Lilly, have looked more reliable of late. Zambrano (14-6, 3.91) is approaching the game with his usual self-assuredness.

"What games?" he bristled when asked about his latest two outings. "It's in the past."

Zambrano's performance in the second half (4-3, 5.80 ERA) and his postseason history -- he's winless in four starts -- does not give Chicago confidence.

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo yesterday became the first pitcher to start a postseason game after going 0-0 during the regular season since Virgil Trucks in 1945.

His four regular season starts were the fewest for a Game 1 starter since Larry Gura (two regular season starts) started Game 1 of the 1976 American League Championship Series for Kansas City.

Gallardo, pressed into Game 1 duty by a pitching shortage stemming from Ben Sheets's elbow injury, lasted only four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. He admitted the Brewers' defensive lapses in the third inning rattled him.

"Things like that are going to happen," Gallardo said. "You still have to go out there and make pitches and get out of situations like that."

Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Joe Torre felt uneasy about dispatching Greg Maddux to the bullpen for the series against the Cubs. Not because he didn't know how the probable Hall of Famer would react, but because "I certainly didn't want to slight him."

"I mean, I respect him too much for what he's done and who he is," Torre said. "But before I even forgot to seriously ask [whether he'd be willing], he made it clear through my pitching coach, Rick Honeycutt, that that would be no problem."

Harlan reported from Chicago. Sheinin reported from Philadelphia.