MLB This Week

CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee began texting each other a week ago, but kept their notes private. Now that the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are set to meet, the former teammates can share their message with everyone: See ya in the World Series, buddy! Broad Street vs. Broadway, cheesesteaks vs.

Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees. Lee has been dominant in the postseason, going 2-0 with an 0.74 ERA in three starts. Manager Charlie Manuel made the announcement Sunday. Lee will take the mound Wednesday night at New York. The Yankees beat the Angels 5-2 on Sunday night to win the AL championship series in six games.

Johnny Damon hit a go-ahead, two-run single, Andy Pettitte held the Los Angeles Angels in check and the New York Yankees took a 3-1 lead after six innings in Game 6 of the AL championship series on Sunday night to move within reach of their first World Series trip since 2003. With the Angels trying to even the ALCS and force a Game 7 on Sunday night, former-Yankee Bobby Abreu put Los Angeles ahead…

Angels manager Mike Scioscia called baseball's postseason format "ridiculous" because of the extra off days added a couple of years ago to suit the sport's television partners. After playing 162 games over 182 days during the regular season, the Angels and Yankees played just eight each over the next 20 days going into Game 6 of the AL championship series, which was postponed to…

Philadelphia transit workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a walkout less than a week before the Phillies play their first home game of the 2009 World Series. Union president Willie Brown says 4,700 workers authorized him Sunday to call a strike if last-ditch negotiations with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority fail.

When Joe Girardi has big decisions to make, he consults his thick black binder. In his first postseason as New York's manager, he's been checking that book full of baseball data a lot. Some say too much. At this time of year, when the moves of experienced postseason managers like the Angels' Mike Scioscia and Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel are scrutinized as much as a contestant on…

Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has decided not to play in the U.S. major leagues for now, opting instead for Japan's professional leagues. The 18-year-old left-hander, who throws a fastball that has been clocked as high as 96 mph said Sunday he wasn't yet ready for the majors. "I don't think I have what it takes to complete at the world level yet," Kikuchi said at a…