sterpiece Cheslor Cuthbert Jersey , the talk was it could be the last time Clayton Kershaw — who has an opt-out clause in the contract that will pay him $65 million the next two years — wears the Dodgers home whites.That would be bad for the Dodgers on two fronts.No. 1, it would mean they lose the next two games in Milwaukee and fall short of the World Series. No. 2, it would mean they lose a pitcher who is in the conversation just after Sandy Koufax when it comes to the all-time Dodger greats.Don’t fear, Dodger fans. It’s highly doubtful Kershaw is going anywhere.The ace lefty was coy talking about possible free agency before his start Wednesday in Los Angeles, when he redeemed himself for a dismal performance in Game 1 of the NLCS by pitching three-hit ball over seven innings as the Dodgers moved within a game of the World Series with a 5-2 win.He said the kind of things a player is supposed to say to avoid tipping off his thoughts or alienating any of his fans.“I have not made a decision,” Kershaw said. “And to my understanding you get 10 days after the World Series. So should be a busy 10 days.”Kershaw has the contractual right to opt out of the seven-year deal signed in 2014 that pays him $215 million, and to use the leverage that comes with it. That’s likely, at the very least, to get him a few more years at the same kind of money he’s making today.Make no mistake about it, that money is huge. Kershaw is making $34 million this year, putting him just behind Angels outfielder Mike Trout after leading the highest-paid list for the previous three years.And, for the most part, Kershaw has earned his pay. He’s an astonishing 153-69 in 11 years as a Dodger, with an ERA of 2.39 and a WAR (wins above replacement) of 62.1.But his innings are in decline, partly because of injury and partly because of the way baseball is evolving. Kershaw’s ERA has inched up as his fastball has gone down in velocity Brian Flynn Jersey , and he’s no longer the automatic win Dodger fans pencil him in for every time he takes the mound.By itself, that might not be enough for teams to pass on emptying the wallet to sign him. There aren’t many impact players like Kershaw, and the idea of him taking the mound every five days would have any general manager salivating.But baseball doesn’t value the starting pitcher like it used to, which was on display in Wednesday’s game when Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell removed starter Wade Miley after just five pitches. The move was unconventional and made mostly because Counsell hoped the Dodgers would load their lineup with right-handed hitters, but the trend across baseball is toward using starters less and replacing them with multiple relievers.Fox analyst and Hall of Famer John Smoltz believes the analytical age is causing teams to rethink the traditional rotation. It’s cheaper — and sometimes more effective — to have pitchers throw as hard as they can for as long as they can, he says, and then replace them with another pitcher who can do the same.“It’s hard-pressed for me to think that at the end of the day this is not just a cheaper version of baseball,” Smoltz said earlier this year. “You can operate your team paying guys less and utilizing them in their younger years when they’re not making so much. Burn and churn and just keep shuffling the deck in the bullpen.”Kershaw’s value to the Dodgers was also questioned when he was passed over as Game 1 starter in the division series against Atlanta. Kershaw was miffed, then went out to pitch eight innings of two-hit ball to win Game 2.But he stumbled when picked to start the NLCS, not getting an out in the fourth inning before being pulled. And while he rebounded against the Brewers in Game 5, the knock on Kershaw is that, for all his greatness, he has underperformed at crucial times in the postseason and has yet to deliver the Dodgers a World Series title.That could change in the next two weeks as the Dodgers chase their first championship in 30 years. It might also convince the Dodgers to add as many years onto Kershaw’s contract as he will likely want.It will be money well spent, because Kershaw is as much an institution in LA as the great Dodger pitchers of the past. Vin Scully himself has compared him to Koufax except, of course Abraham Almonte Jersey , for the fact Koufax won three World Series rings in Los Angeles.No matter what happens in Milwaukee, though, expect Kershaw to remain a Dodger for years to come.____Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg The Boston Red Sox are sitting at home awaiting their opponent for the 2018 World Series.Boston dominated the Houston Astros over five games in the American League Championship Series to secure its berth in the Fall Classic against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.The Red Sox are in an ideal position, as they'll be more rested for the World Series and get to start the best-of-seven series at Fenway Park.Outside of the facts mentioned above, we don't know much about what will take place during the series, but we'll find out more as soon as Friday if the Dodgers close out the NLCS in Milwaukee. 2018 World Series ScheduleGame 1:Tuesday, October 23 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 2:Wednesday, October 24 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 3:Friday, October 26 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 4:Saturday, October 27 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 5:Sunday, October 28 (Time TBD http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-grimm-jersey , Fox)Game 6:Tuesday, October 30 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 7:Wednesday, October 31 (Time TBD, Fox)Known InfoRed Sox Will Be Fresh Entering World SeriesAfter clinching the American League pennant Thursday, the Red Sox earned four valuable days off before beginning the World Series at home.The rest matters most to the pitching staff, which was managed well in the ALCS by manager Alex Cora.Chris Sale, who was slated to start Game 6 of the ALCS, is most likely going to take the ball for Game 1 of the World Series with over a week of rest.David J. Phillip/Associated PressALCS Game 5 starter David Price would be in line to start Game 2 for the Red Sox if they keep the same rotation from the first two postseason series.In that case, Price would be working on five days of rest, which is something you rarely see in the postseason.The extended layoff will also benefit the Boston bullpen, and it gives Cora an opportunity to use Nathan Eovaldi or Rick Porcello in relief during the first two games of the series.Cora could opt to use his projected starters for Games 3 and 4 for an inning or two of relief, like he did during the ALCS, to bridge the gap between the starters and closer Craig Kimbrel. Porcello also pitched in relief during the ALDS against the Yankees.Regardless of which strategy Cora employs, his pitchers will be fresher than the NL champion Burch Smith Jersey , who will have three days off at most, with at least one of them reserved for travel. Game 7 of the NLCS would be Saturday night, if necessary. World Series Opens At Fenway ParkBoston clinched home-field advantage in the World Series because it recorded the best regular-season record in baseball (108-54).During the regular season, the Red Sox were 57-24 at Fenway Park, but they were only 2-2 there in the first two rounds of the postseason.The team did go up against two of the best road teams in Major League Baseball.Elise Amendola/Associated PressThe Houston Astros and New York Yankees both had better road marks than the two teams left in the National League.In their last three World Series appearances, all of which have resulted in championships, the Sox won all but one of the first two games at home.Boston took the first two games of the 2004 and 2007 World Series on its way to sweeps of St. Louis and Colorado, while it split Games 1 and 2 with the Cardinals in 2013 before claiming the title in six games.If the Red Sox get off to a similar start Tuesday and Wednesday, they'll enter either Dodger Stadium or Miller Park with a two-game lead and the opportunity to add to their five road victories in the postseason. Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90.