By Janie McCauley
The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - Greg Maddux appeared relaxed all week, as if the major milestone he's about to add to his impeccable resume was just a distant thought.

The humble and focused right-hander stopped to socialize with the clubhouse attendants and casually chatted up his Chicago teammates, seemingly his calm self even as he's about to make history.

"I'm trying," Maddux said with a smile Thursday. "What are you going to do? I guess I could worry and panic about it, but I'm not going to."

Today, the four-time Cy Young Award winner will try for the second time to get his 300th career win when the Cubs face San Francisco. Brad Hennessey, a right-hander, will start for the Giants.

The 38-year-old Maddux, 299-170 and a winner of 13 straight NL Gold Glove awards, would become the 22nd major-league pitcher to reach 300 victories and the first in the National League since Philadelphia's Steve Carlton in 1983.

Roger Clemens was the last to accomplish the feat, reaching 300 on his fourth try, June 13, 2003.

Maddux missed his first chance last Sunday when he left after six innings with the Cubs trailing the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2.

There will be plenty of hype this time around - the game has been sold out for months.

"It's going to be a good one, boy," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, who's returning to the Bay area to face his former team for just the second time since taking over the Cubs after the 2002 season.

All of Maddux's teammates are rooting for him to get it over with - they know that's what Maddux wants. He's a star pitcher who would rather have the team in the spotlight than himself.

"He's going for his 300th and you'd never know it," starter Kerry Wood said. "He doesn't want the attention of it."