Back on Track?

The Cubs this week have found the best possible cure for a long losing spell: The Washington Nationals.

Carlos Zambrano and Sean Marshall each scored a run themselves while propelling the Cubs to their first two shutouts of the season to open the series, and Kerry Wood finally debuts Thursday as the Cubs hope to ride into Bridgeport Friday on the heels of a three-game sweep.

Like the final spring training start that earned him a spot on the roster, Marshall took a no-hitter through five innings Wednesday night, giving up only a clean single to Alfonso Soriano leading off the sixth inning before giving way to the bullpen for the final three innings. Bobby Howry, Scott Williamson and Scott Eyre were untouched for an inning apiece as the Cubs combined on their first one-hitter since Mark Prior, Jerome Williams and Ryan Dempster shut down the White Sox last June.

And like before Derrek Lee was injured, the Cubs played station-to-station offense, capitalized on errors and manufactured early runs. Juan Pierre's hustle got the Cubs on the board, and Jacque Jones scored on a suicide squeeze. They're good steps to take when your team doesn't have a longball threat, and if Aramis Ramirez's early exit tonight with a lower back strain was a sign of things to come, they'll be even more necessary. Ramirez is listed as day-to-day.

The big question now is Wood. He says his strength is back, and he's been striking out batters left and right in his minor-league rehab starts. If he can stay ahead of Washington hitters early and get on a roll, maybe he throws seven innings; but if he starts walking the big-leaguers and going deep in a lot of counts, that pitch count can sneak up in a hurry and Dusty Baker will have to throw an extra couple of innings at the bullpen before squaring off against the defending champs.

Either way, Wood's a valuable puzzle piece to get into place in order to find out just how good or bad this team's going to be four months from now. Mark Prior and Wade Miller are finally scheduled for rehab starts as well, and if the good Lord's willin' and the crick don't rise, the Cubs pitching staff could finally be set within the next couple of weeks.