Braves Name Dallas Keuchel Starter for Game 1 of NLDS Against Cardinals

"Postseason experience" is what Atlanta wanted to add when they went out and grabbed Dallas Keuchel midseason, so why not show him off at the first possible opportunity?

The Braves announced on Tuesday that Keuchel will toe the slab in Game 1 at SunTrust Park, opposing Miles Mikolas of the Cards, a surprise choice for the big stage.

And why not? He's certainly gotten results in big games of the very recent past.

The addition of Keuchel midseason certainly worked out better than Chicago's similarly-timed Craig Kimbrel signing; all in all, he went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts with Atlanta.

But this honor is all about the results of previous Octobers. Keuchel, in a 'Stros uniform, is 4-2 with a 3.31 mark in 10 playoff outings (nine starts), tarnished slightly by a tough 2017 World Series, where he racked up a 5.23 ERA against a juggernaut Dodgers offense (and in a series where it almost seemed like juiced balls were introduced midway through the playoffs).

Keuchel will not succumb to the pressure, and he's the perfect option to help ease Mike Soroka into the spotlight for Game 2.