Baseball playoffs start today with Brewers-Phils

Baseball’s playoffs begin this afternoon in Philadelphia with Game One of the National League Division Series between the East champion Phillies and wild-card Milwaukee Brewers.

The Phillies are hoping Pat Burrell is at full strength for the opener. The left fielder left yesterday’s workout with discomfort in his lower back, exiting after taking a swing in batting practice. Burrell hit .250 with 33 homers and 86 RBIs.

The Phils-Brewers game will be followed by the NLDS opener in Chicago, where the Central-winning Cubs entertain the West champion Dodgers.

The wild-card Boston Red Sox and West champion L.A. Angels cap things off with Game One of their ALDS under the lights in Anaheim.

Last night, the Chicago White Sox became the American League Central champs, thanks to a pair of 38-year-old veterans and a 23-year-old pitcher.

Jim Thome launched a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh as the White Sox knocked off the Minnesota Twins 1-0 in a one-game playoff at Chicago. Twins starter Nick Blackburn had a two-hit shutout until Thome smacked his 34th home run of the season.

That was enough offense for John Danks, who scattered two hits while firing only 89 pitches in eight innings. Danks had a no-hitter until Michael Cuddyer led off the fifth with a double.

Cuddyer almost scored the game’s first run later in the fifth, but he was cut down at the plate by Ken Griffey Jr. to keep the game scoreless.

Bobby Jenks worked a perfect ninth with help from outfielder Brian Anderson, who made a diving catch for the game’s final out.

The outcome sets up an AL division series between the White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, which will get under way Thursday at St. Petersburg.

In other baseball news:

• The Cubs have picked up the option on manager Lou Piniella’s contract for 2010, one day before the NL Central champions open the playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 65-year-old Piniella guided the Cubs to a league-best 97-64 record. The Cubs have gone 182-141 in two seasons under Piniella, winning consecutive division titles for the first time since 1908, which is the last time the team won the World Series.

• Brian Cashman has agreed to a three-year contract to stay on as general manager of the New York Yankees. Cashman took over the job in 1997 and his current deal was set to expire at the end of October. The Yankees missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 1993.

• Cleveland starter Cliff Lee and Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge have been named Major League Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year in their respective leagues. Cliff was 22-3 with an American League-leading 2.54 ERA, one year after going 5-8 with a 6.29 earned run average for the Indians. Lidge was a perfect 41-for-41 in save opportunities as the Phillies’ closer after converting just 19 of 27 chances for Houston.

• New York Mets pitcher John Maine has undergone surgery to remove a lesion from the back of his right shoulder socket. He will start rehabilitation immediately and is expected to be fully recovered in time for spring training. Maine was 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts this season before missing the last five starts due to the shoulder problem.