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Zambrano gets the call against Bucs

Apr 2, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - Which Carlos Zambrano will be on the hill this afternoon for the Chicago Cubs when they continue their season-opening three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field?

Zambrano, the Cubs' Opening Day starter the last six seasons, had an interesting 2010 to say the least. After a wildly inconsistent first couple of months, Zambrano had a dugout blowup at U.S. Cellular Field which led to a suspension, anger management classes and a demotion to the bullpen.

The Venezuelan right-hander returned to the rotation with a vengeance, though, going 8-0 over his final 11 starts with a 1.41 ERA. He ended the year 11-6 with a 3.33 ERA.

"The best thing in the world about 'Z' to me, the last 13 weeks I've spent with him, he's been fantastic," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "Since coming back last year and finishing so strong, he's had a good spring, handled himself great. And whether he's pitching today or pitching a week from today, I'd like to think he'll pitch well and just leave the Opening Day stuff out of it."

Zambrano beat the Pirates in his only start against them last season and is 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last 10 starts against them.

Pittsburgh counters with lefty Paul Maholm, who endured his worst season in the majors last season, as he posted a 9-15 record with a 5.10 ERA in 32 starts. The lofty ERA was the fifth worst among qualifying pitchers, while his .303 batting average against ranked at the very bottom.

Maholm has posted a 7-2 lifetime mark against the Cubs, but has pitched to a 6.42 ERA in doing so.

If Maholm is going to continue his success against the Cubs, he's going to need the Pirates to produce the way they did on Friday when they captured their fifth straight Opening Day win. Neil Walker hit his first career grand slam to propel the Bucs to the 6-3 triumph.

Andrew McCutchen slugged a two-run homer for the Pirates, who gave new manager Clint Hurdle a victory in his debut.

Kevin Correia (1-0) won his first-ever Opening Day assignment, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits in six innings.

Walker and McCutchen have a chance to stay hot this afternoon. Since the start of last season Walker has hit .467 with four homers and 11 RBI in seven games against the Cubs, while McCutchen is batting .446 with 12 RBI, 14 runs and a .530 on-base percentage in 15 games. McCutchen has also owned Zambrano, going 5-for-7 with a triple and double against him.

Starlin Castro had three hits and scored twice for the Cubs, while Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez and Darwin Barney each had two hits in the loss.

Veteran Ryan Dempster (0-1) absorbed the loss and surrendered six runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work to take the loss.

Pittsburgh won 10 of its 15 games versus Chicago last year, taking five of nine in the Windy City.