LOS ANGELES _ The road to the National League Championship Series for the Cubs traveled unexpectedly through Albuquerque.
That's where the Cubs made a pit stop because of a medical emergency involving a member of their traveling party and it postponed their arrival at their Southern California hotel until 12:30 p.m. local time Friday.
But after needing 4 hours, 37 minutes Thursday night to hold off the Nationals in the NL Division Series for the right to advance, the transportation delay gave the Cubs even more reason not to rush into naming a starter for Saturday night's Game 1 against the rested Dodgers.
"I promise you, the white smoke, as soon as it occurs, you guys will know about it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before leaving Dodger Stadium to assess the pros and cons of left-hander Jose Quintana and John Lackey as Game 1 starters with President Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and his coaching staff.
Quintana threw only 12 pitches in relief Thursday as the Cubs survived against the Nationals. Lackey is the freshest Cubs' starter, as he hasn't pitched since throwing an inning of relief on Oct. 1 but he beat the Cardinals in the NL Central-clinching game on Sept. 27.
The order of the rest of the rotation will be "more comfortable" after the Game 1 decision is made.
Maddon said left-hander Jon Lester, who threw 55 pitches in relief on Wednesday, will start Game 2.
Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta should be well-rested when the NLCS returns to Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
The Dodgers will present a formidable challenge as they won a baseball-best 104 games during the regular season, including a three-game sweep of the Cubs May 26-28.
As the Cubs went on to add three more games to their losing streak some wondered if it felt as if the sky was falling then.
"It was crashing," Maddon joked.
Aside from getting their rotation in order, expect the Cubs to retool their roster, specifically a bullpen that walked eight batters in five innings in the 9-8 victory over the Nationals on Thursday night.
Nevertheless, Maddon reiterated his faith in Carl Edwards Jr., who was pulled after walking Michael Taylor to start the seventh Thursday and walked four overall while pitching in all five NLDS games.
"Of course CJ had his problems with his command, but he's still a big part of our success, and he will be moving forward again," Maddon said.
The Cubs need to find a temporary replacement for closer Wade Davis, who threw 44 pitches to earn the first seven-out save of his career Thursday. Reliever Hector Rondon could be added to the roster.
The Cubs' batters must be as disciplined as they were in the fifth inning Thursday in finally solving Nationals ace Max Scherzer. The Dodgers blanked the Cubs in the first two of their three May victories thanks to a heavy dose of high fastballs.
"It's a great blueprint," Maddon said. "I've always been concerned about old-school pitching coaches trying to get elevated fastball pitchers to throw the ball down in the zone. Stop. Certain guys do pitch well about letter high.
"Our counterattack is either to not swing at it or really force them down, and you have to be prepared for the ball that's not exactly there. But if they're executing their pitches, they're going to be tough, period.
"I don't care what anybody says. It's true. It's a great way to pitch. Either you have to foul it off or if you have to take it, it's a ball and you have to force them down into your lanes."
Maddon believed the Cubs finally broke through in Game 5 against the Nationals with better plate discipline that they must display against Kershaw and a formidable pitching staff.
"The Dodgers have a method," Maddon said. "I totally understand it. They have to execute it. We have to execute our side of it. We'll see what happens."
