Dodgers will be looking inside for outs  —  The choice of Clayton Kershaw as the Game 1 starter is telling, as his aggressive approach signals the Dodgers are aware they have to keep Phillies' batters off-balance.  —  Payback is a pitch.  —  An inside pitch, at their shirts, behind their butts, in their minds.

CC is cool as October  —  NEW YORK — You search for even the faintest hint of anxiety or tension from the pitcher who's being asked to deliver the Yankees to the World Series.  Of course there is none, nothing even close as CC Sabathia is flipping through mail Wednesday afternoon …

Sox trying to re-work Saito deal  —  The Red Sox are currently involved in a procedural matter with reliever Takashi Saito's contract which would allow them to re-sign the right-hander but for less than the $6 million on his 2010 option, according to a major league source familiar with the deal.

Guzman added, Burnett in Game 2 (and a live chat tonight!)  —  Still in the interview room where Joe Girardi just announced that Freddy Guzman has been added to the roster in place of Eric Hinske.  —  Also, A.J. Burnett is starting Game 2.  Andy Pettitte in Game 3.  Game 4 is TBA.

PostCards: Is it time to trade Albert Pujols?  —  TOWER GROVE — The first edition of this offseason's PostCards mailbag begins with a favorite parlor game of the press box: Take the best player on the team.  Put him on the trading block.  Wonder just what it would take in return to make a deal happen.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, wife Jamie separate  —  The team releases a statement, calling it a ‘personal matter.’  —  Jamie and Frank McCourt, who bought the Dodgers in 2004, confirmed their separation in a statement released by the Dodgers on Wednesday night.  (Los Angeles Times)

Strasburg ready for Arizona Fall League debut  —  PHOENIX — Wearing a gray Washington Nationals No. 37 jersey and blue jeans, Stephen Strasburg looked forward to his debut today in the Arizona Fall League for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.  —  Strasburg said Thursday he is not planning to change …

Free agency looms for John Lackey (Cont.)  —  • Pitching guru Rick Peterson may have a couple options.  He has interviewed with the Brewers to become their pitching coach, and his close relationship with Willie Randolph from their days together with the Mets before they got fired together makes that a natural fit.

If Jays GM looking to make a splash, how about Bay?  —  Alex Anthopoulos is quickly putting his own stamp on the Blue Jays, reassembling the scouting and development staff, and good for him.  —  That's the best way to build for the long term.  Plus, it also enhances his own job security.

The Fallacy Of El Comedulce  —  Good morning Fackers.  The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 allowed for far easier and faster transportation from the East Coast to the West Coast than had previously existed.  Yet, from what I've been hearing and reading over the past several months …

The (Alleged) Tragedy Of How The Astros Are Treating Jose Cruz  —  So Jose Cruz is no longer the first-base coach of the Houston Astros.  Now can someone please tell me why everybody is so upset?  Seriously, what's the big deal?  —  The guy was the first-base coach.

Cash-strapped Texas Rangers moving further from date with destiny  —  Give the Texas Rangers credit.  They possess the ability to make news during the playoffs even without participating in them.  —  On Wednesday we learned that the organization is getting rid of Rudy Jaramillo but hanging onto some of your money.

U.S. clubs chase Japanese schoolboy Kikuchi  —  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese schoolboy Yusei Kikuchi will hold ‘speed interviews’ with Major League Baseball clubs as the race to sign the explosive left-hander heats up.  —  The 18-year-old pitcher is poised to meet representatives …

Superstitious Yanks cling to their good-luck charms  —  For Nick Swisher, it's a broken Yankees gnome in his locker.  For Jose Molina, a hand-drawn picture of a bunny.  For Jorge Posada, a quote from the Bible.  —  They're the trinkets, geegaws and personal items adorning the Bombers' lockers …

Teufel leads ex-Met wave  —  As the body was unloaded from a U-Haul truck and wheeled across the Scottsdale, Arizona, parking lot, cryonicists with cameras swarmed from Alcor's back doors, laughing, joking, and snapping souvenir pictures.  —  The Stadium erupts and players go wild as they greet …

Garland, Weaver left off NLCS roster  —  Healthy Kuroda, Elbert included; Billingsley to pitch in 'pen  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers made several changes to their roster for the NL Championship Series that opens at 5:07 p.m. PT on TBS on Thursday, adding pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Scott Elbert …