Maddon has playoff rotation in mind, not ready to reveal yet

CINCINNATI — Manager Joe Maddon admitted on Friday that he’s had the Cubs’ postseason rotation set in his mind for about a week, but he was not ready to reveal it until he can meet with the front office and the coaching staff.

“We haven’t had that final conversation with [president of baseball operations Theo Epstein] and [general manager Jed Hoyer] and everybody else, all of our coaches,” Maddon said. “What I like to do under these circumstances is talk to the players first before they have to read about it in the newspaper.”

With Jason Hammel missing his start on Friday because of tightness in his right elbow, he could be the odd man out, leaving Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey.

The Cubs, who clinched the National League Central in mid-September, won’t know who they will face in the NL Division Series until the Wild Card Game is played on Oct. 5. The NLDS begins Oct. 7 at Wrigley Field. Would Maddon change the rotation depending on their postseason opponent?

• Postseason schedule | Gear

“At this point, I don’t think it really does [matter],” Maddon said. “We haven’t finalized it. We have the right to change things.”

Whoever starts Game 3 on Oct. 10 will have an extended break.

“You do your best to meet the challenge,” Maddon said. “You don’t make excuses, you don’t cry about it, you just do it.”

Worth noting • Rob Zastryzny is most likely the first pitcher ever to make his first Major …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com