PITTSBURGH – Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has a plan this week for his key bullpen pitchers as the team’s postseason roster starts to take form, though the organization insists they won’t make any final decisions until it's clear whom they'll face in the National League division series. That won’t come until late next Wednesday night after the wild-card game is over.

“It’s probably going to be 11 [pitchers] and 14 [position players],” Maddon said Monday. “Probably the optimal situation to be in.”

Hector Rondon surrendered a pair of home runs in relief on Monday. Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports

It’s the same split the Cubs took last year in Round 1. Between the obvious names and the players Maddon has been talking about -- and using -- we can guess the bullpen could look like this: Aroldis Chapman, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Travis Wood, Justin Grimm, Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery.

That leaves contributors like Trevor Cahill, Joe Smith, Rob Zastryzny and, of course, Jason Hammel on the outside looking in (assuming Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey are the starters).

If the Cubs do keep 14 position players, then their decisions in that department become a little easier. All starters and role players who have been with the team most of the year can make the roster. The only possible tough call is if they keep Albert Almora Jr. over Chris Coghlan, Tommy La Stella or Matt Szczur. That’s not likely to happen based on the experience and the need for left-handed bats.

As for the plan with Maddon’s top arms in the bullpen, they’ll get two more appearances before the end of the regular season.

“We thought three times out this week would be good,” Maddon said.

That’s why Strop, Rondon and Chapman pitched in the Cubs' 12-2 blowout win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. The plan is to pitch them again on Wednesday and then give them two days off before a final outing on Saturday.

Rondon gave up two home runs on Monday but Maddon isn’t concerned so long as his slider finds some more movement. Both long balls came off that pitch. The Cubs believe Rondon is still working his way into form after a layoff due to a triceps injury.

“The big thing there is target practice and health,” Maddon said. “The slider needs to be sharpened up a bit. The fastball was fine. The delivery looked good.”

Maddon intimated that about 25 pitches is the max he would use any of his top relievers this week. And he believes Wood is rounding back into form after a rough stretch.

“Travis was the big concern about two, three weeks ago,” Maddon said. “We backed off him enough that he’s in really good shape right now.”