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Atlanta Braves Name Dallas Keuchel As Game 1 Starter

By Deke Lloyd

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Braves made it official who the Game 1 starter would be Dallas Keuchel when the team takes the field on Thursday. After being signed midseason, this is the spot Keuchel was brought in to fill.

It was assumed Dallas Keuchel would be the starter for the Atlanta Braves in the Game 1 series-opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. After Mike Soroka’s last regular-season start was pushed back, for him to be ready in game 3, it was a given. Well, after some speculation, the Braves made it official announcing Keuchel would be on the mound when the Braves take the field for Game 1 of the playoffs.

This will be the first time Dallas Keuchel will be pitching for the Braves in the postseason, but this is far from his first playoff start. Getting all of his playoff experience with the Houston Astros, Keuchel is a veteran when it comes to the playoffs. Of the Braves starters likely to pitch in this series, Keuchel, Mike Foltynewicz, Mike Soroka, and Max Fried, Keuchel has all the other guys lapped when it comes to experience. Keuchel was the clear and obvious choice when it came to picking a Game 1 starter.

Keuchel has started nine games with a 2-2 record but his team is 6-3 in those games, all of those coming with Houston in the AL. Keuchel did get some experience pitching against the LA Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. Pitching against the Cardinals, in the postseason, will be something new for Keuchel, who has struggled against St. Louis. Keuchel is 0-2 with an ERA over 10 against the Cardinals. However, his last start against St. Louis came in 2016 so that number isn’t as bad as it looks.

The Atlanta Braves will be led by a playoff-hardened veteran with a World Series ring. With so many young players being key contributors on this team playing in the postseason for the first or second time ever, it’s going to be a big x-factor having a pitcher with so much experience leading this team. The Braves playoff woes are well documented and this team needs to get off to a good start. Keuchel throwing in Game 1 is a great way to get off to the kind of start the Braves need in the postseason.

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