Pedro Martinez’s first postseason start in five years will be in a familiar spot.

Martinez is scheduled to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the NL championship series against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The 37-year-old right-hander made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1992 and also played for Los Angeles in 1993 before he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino DeShields.
“It’s going to be special, especially bringing back memories about my start here,” Martinez said before Game 1 on Thursday night. “I was born in this place, and I hope this is not the last one that I pitch here, but if it is, it would be a great joy to actually do it in the same place I started.”
Martinez threw a simulated game Tuesday, facing backups Eric Bruntlett and Greg Dobbs. He had been scheduled to start Game 3 of the division series against Colorado, but manager Charlie Manuel went with J.A. Happ instead when weather delayed the game a day.
Martinez, who hasn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 30, will be facing his old friend and fellow Dominican Manny Ramirez of the Dodgers.
“Nobody can say I know how to pitch Manny. Manny is such a great hitter, and he’s someone that makes adjustments as he sees the game develop,” Martinez said.
“Once the game is over, I hope he comes over and gives me the same real hug he always gives me and the same jokes.”
Count on it.
“He’s like my brother,” said Ramirez, who played with Martinez when they were with the Red Sox. “After the game we go and have a beer and everything is fine.”
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SEPARATED MCCOURTS: The separation of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie shouldn’t affect the team, manager Joe Torre said Thursday.
The couple confirmed in a terse statement Wednesday night that they have parted ways. There was no immediate word if they will divorce.
“I don’t think it’s going to affect the team. I’m not saying they don’t care,” Torre said. “No question it’s going to take on a life of its own. I still continue to have the same relationship with the two of them. It’s something you certainly feel bad about.”
Jamie McCourt sat in the first row of the owner’s box for Game 1 of the NLCS on Thursday. Her husband was in the third row next to former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda.
The McCourts have been married since 1979 and have four grown sons.
In March, Frank McCourt promoted his wife to chief executive officer of the team he gained ownership of in January 2004 after moving from his native Boston. She is the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball.
Jamie McCourt began as Dodgers vice chairman and was named team president in 2005.
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ROSTER SWITCH: The Yankees plan to add Freddy Guzman to their roster for the AL championship series in place of Eric Hinske, giving them a second potential pinch runner in addition to Brett Gardner.
“We thought we could use another speed guy in this round,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We’ve had some success doing those type of things late in games and in seven-game series felt that it could come up late in games. ... Sometimes you can use a couple of pinch runners. And if Gardy gets a start, then you don’t have a pinch runner. It just frees us up to do more things.”
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DRAWING ROOM: Alex Rodriguez’s locker at Yankee Stadium didn’t have any personal decoration for most of the season, but there was a new crayon drawing up Thursday: “Good luck Alex,” it read, with a heart around “Alex.” It was signed “Natasha,” the name of his daughter, who turns 5 next month.