'Z' is still a Young man

Carlos Zambrano made a point this spring to stay away from Cy Young predictions, but one month into the season, the Cubs' ace is doing it again.

Only this time he's saying it with his pitching. Finishing his April schedule with seven scoreless innings in the Cubs' 7-0 win over Washington on Saturday, Zambrano closed out the best opening month of his career (4-1, 2.21 ERA).

He has been the pitching key to the Cubs' best 24-game start since 1995 (16-8) and looks like a big reason the Cubs could start challenging Arizona as the front-runner favorite in the National League.

''He came to camp in better shape, and it showed,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''You could see …