The starting pitchers are set for the NL Division Series opener between the Cardinals and Braves in Atlanta on Thursday. Veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel will face St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas.
Keuchel, who has made nine career postseason starts, went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts after signing a one-year deal with Atlanta in June. He will pitch against the Cardinals for the first time since 2016.
Mikolas was 9-14 with a 4.17 ERA in 32 starts for the Cardinals. He will make his playoff debut.
>>A's Turn to Manaea, Rays Morton for AL Wild Card Game
Oakland tabbed left-hander Sean Manaea (4-0, 1.21 ERA) to start the AL wild-card game against Tampa Bay.
The 27-year-old Manaea was sidelined last year when the Athletics lost the wild-card game to the Yankees, and missed most of this season following shoulder surgery. He returned in September and has been sharp over five starts.
He’ll start opposite Rays right-hander Charlie Morton (16-6, 3.05) — no openers for either of these forward-thinking clubs — although neither manager will shy away from an early hook.