AL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS VS WHITE SOX

October 10, 2021

Ryan Pressly

Guaranteed Rate Field

Houston Astros

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Dusty mentioned yesterday how having the families along for the ride this time of year, a lot better than last year when you guys were kind of isolated. You being a new dad, what's it like having your son here or your wife here and having your family along for the ride this time?

RYAN PRESSLY: I mean, family is everything, especially when they can travel with you. You know, last year was tough being in the hotel and I didn't have my wife there and, you know, but having them here this year and in the hotel rooms and we get to go do stuff, it kind of takes your mind off of baseball for a little bit, but it's definitely great to have them here.

Q. If you had to define one thing or maybe two that Dusty Baker does so well and helps you guys so much, what might that be?

RYAN PRESSLY: I think it's just the communication. You know, that's just the big key. He is a guy that likes to cruise the clubhouse a little bit, you know, chat it up with the guys and, you know, he is a player's manager, so, you know, he likes to communicate with the players, and I think that's one of the biggest attributes that he has.

Q. How are you feeling overall going 20-plus pitches two days and running? I know you had the off day, but how are you feeling going into today, and you think if they asked you to get more than three outs today, you could do that?

RYAN PRESSLY: I feel good. I'll do whatever it takes. It's the postseason. There's no days off. You got to figure out a way to get your body ready. Everybody is putting their body on the line right now, so as for relievers, you know, I've told the guys, like, you need to figure out a way. This is about the time when the team needs us the most, so whatever you got to do to get it done, go do it.

Q. Have you had a chance to talk to Zack Greinke about what it might be like for him coming out of the bullpen?

RYAN PRESSLY: I've talked to him down there. He is always going to have good insight on a lot of stuff. He is a future Hall of Famer. He knows how to get himself ready to go into a game, so I think we just kind of let him go about his business and let him do his thing to get ready.

Q. Can you talk about the last three outs? I mean, it is the eternal question in baseball about why those are so difficult and how they're different. I mean, we've seen Kimbrel who is a Hall of Fame pitcher here struggle with a different inning. Can you talk about your own experience and what that's about?

RYAN PRESSLY: Getting the last three outs, a lot of people put a lot of emphasis on it. You still got to get 27 outs. Every out is a big out. It's if you want to put the amount of pressure on yourself, you can. It's not really going to work out well for you, but for me, I just go out there and try to get my job done. You know, I trust my infield, trust my outfield, trust Maldi putting the fingers down. That's what I do.

Q. Is there a difference in the adrenaline from seventh and eighth to the ninth?

RYAN PRESSLY: During the regular season, not really. Postseason, yeah, there's a little bit of a difference, but, you know, everybody -- everybody sees every single pitch, and it's on pins and needles every pitch in the postseason. So it's just as intense as it is all the way through the game through the ninth.