MILWAUKEE -- Braves right-hander Charlie Morton will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers on Friday. This is an assignment he may not have gained had he not allowed seven runs in just 3 2/3 innings for the Astros against the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in 2017.

“I remember giving up a bunch of runs and leaving the field thinking, ‘Man, I don’t know what happened,’” Morton said. “I felt like I threw the ball OK. Just a ton of people scored. And [the Astros] gave me the ball for Game 7 in the Championship Series. It’s do or die, Game 7; no tomorrow if you don’t win.”

Former Astros manager A.J. Hinch provided encouragement after that rough start against the Yankees and then created confidence when he gave Morton the ball five days later for Game 7. The right-hander responded by tossing five scoreless innings in a victory that sent Houston to the World Series.

“That was something I had never experienced. Coming off a start like that and them looking at me and saying, ‘You threw the ball well. We trust you. We believe in you. Here’s the ball for Game 7. I think that was when I was finally like, ‘Holy cow.’ Since then, I don’t doubt myself the way I used to.”

Morton produced a 1.45 ERA over nine postseason appearances (eight starts) from Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS to Game 7 of last year’s ALCS. Within that stretch, he tossed the final four innings of a Game 7 win over the Dodgers in the World Series in '17.

“Now, it’s like if I’m privileged to be given the ball in a playoff start, it’s like I know that I’ve done it,” Morton said. “I know I’m capable of doing it.”

Can the Braves get Burnes twice?

Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes will start Game 1 vs. Atlanta, and it will be a challenge. Burnes could win the National League Cy Young Award this year after he led the Majors in ERA (2.43), FIP (1.63), strikeouts per nine innings (12.6), home runs per nine innings (0.4) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88).

But the Braves got to Burnes on July 30 at Truist Park.

He allowed nine hits, five runs, two walks and one home run in four-plus innings, including a four-run first inning. It tied Burnes’ shortest start of the season, excluding Saturday’s preplanned two-inning start against the Dodgers.

“The stuff was really, really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “And you watch a video of him and it's like it's even better than what I remembered, quite honestly. … I don't remember a whole lot. I just remember I think we scored four runs in the first inning, which I thought, 'Man, that's pretty good off this guy,' because you just look at his numbers.”

Joc Pederson hit a leadoff single in that first inning. He advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on Freddie Freeman’s single to left. Austin Riley followed with a two-run homer -- one of only seven homers Burnes allowed all season.

Of course, the Braves know their July 30 success does not mean success Friday.

“I was looking at the left and right [slugging percentages], they’re almost nonexistent against him,” Snitker said. “And it's going to be a big challenge next couple of days, the next five days, whatever.”

Right-handed batters slugged .245 against Burnes in the regular season. Lefties slugged .298.

Bromance

Asked what he thought about former Braves teammate Jace Peterson’s success with the Brewers the past two seasons, Freeman laughed and said it would be better to ask Dansby Swanson.

“Dansby and I talk a lot,” Freeman said. “Dansby will come up and say, ‘Did you see how Jace did?’ When they’re your teammates and they move on, you always keep track. I always check the Angels and [Justin Upton] and all those guys. Jace is one of the good ones.”

Peterson rejuvenated his career with the Brewers last year and then hit .247 with a .714 OPS while serving as a valuable utility player for Milwaukee this year. He played with Atlanta from 2015-17.

“He’s such an impactful teammate,” Swanson said. “He cares about the guys on the team, plays hard and does anything you ask him. I’m extremely happy for him.”