AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2022

Triston McKenzie

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Triston.

Q. Curious from your standpoint what you do see when you look at that lineup and specifically the challenging point that you might face?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think they have some very good hitters, Arozarena, to lead it off. I think Choi's a very good hitter. Marco is in there, Bethancourt. I think you can kind of go from top to bottom. I don't think they're a lineup that you can daze through at any point from 1 to 9. I think as a starting staff and as a bullpen we're going to have to be consistent and just try to stay on top of them.

Q. Do you see a lot of similarities between you and the Rays that way?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: Yeah. I think they're a team that they play the game very hard. I think from top to bottom they play the game hard. I think they're always trying to push across runs and I think they play the game very similar to us where they might have some tight ball games and I think they rely on their bullpen and their arms to kind of keep them in games as well.

Q. What do you think is going to be the key for the Guardians and for you to the second game?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think, one, staying in our approach, staying in our mindset. I think just kind of being, staying in our game. I think if we're able to stay in our game, I think we're able to win it.

Q. When you were battling injuries a few years ago, last season, trying to find your footing, did an opportunity like this ever feel far away? Did you have to keep reminding yourself that this was possible in the future?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: Not necessarily. I think being here today is just a culmination of being present every day during the season. I think anybody in our clubhouse will tell you that.

Q. How much do you relish the fact that tomorrow you're either going to be pitching to try to extend the season or you're going to be pitching to try to win a playoff series?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think it's an exciting thought process, but I think right now, I'm really just focused on today. I'm really just excited to go out there and watch the game and just be a part of today.

Q. What is it about your team that makes you think that the moment's not going to be too big, especially considering y'all's age?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think the vibe in the includes this morning, even though we got in at 8:30, were the same as they have been all year. I think the boys are ready to play. I think they're calm. I think they have a good head on their shoulders in terms of what the mindset is going into today. I think everybody's ready.

Q. What did it mean to you to throw 190-plus innings this season?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: It's something that for me was a personal goal, so I was very happy to check it off the list.

But I think at the end of the day it's more, I think almost none of it matters if I'm not able to stay healthy for the rest of the year. So we got some more baseball to play.

Q. What have you seen as Giménez has developed all year? Last year he was up, he was down and this year he's kind of hit the gas from day one.

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think the talent's always been there. I think everybody's known the talent's always been there. I think this year he's just kind of almost found his footing. I think last year he had a little bit of ups and downs in terms of just him trying to find a little bit of consistency. I think this year he's proved it.

I think defensively he's always been there and I think the bat's been overwhelmingly so productive for us. I think he's always had the potential to be a .300 hitter.

Q. What about when, especially when he made the All Star team mid season. In the clubhouse as a teammate, what kind of teammate is he and how happy have you guys been to watch his progress?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: We had a little team meeting announcing the All Stars and Tito saved him for last because it was his first All Star selection, as well as Clase. It was I think it was just this overwhelming feeling of just excitement for our teammate. Because you know what a big honor it is to play gnat All-Star Game and we all knew he deserved it just based on how he played.

Q. Did you sleep normally last night?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: Pretty good actually. I'm not necessarily a morning person. I woke up with a lot of energy.

Q. Is this a challenging starting time? It's obviously an interesting one.

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I think it is. But I think the amount of energy flowing through our clubhouse right now it's not going to make it a problem at all.

Q. You guys almost thrive off people not believing, so do you take the starting time almost as the same vein?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I mean, I don't know. I kind of felt like it was kind of expected. But I don't take it as a chip on our shoulder. I think it's still a baseball game we have to win. Whether it was at 8 a.m. or if it was at 12 in the morning. I think we have to go out there and play.

Q. I know that in 2020 you were around this team. Last time you guys were able to get to the postseason fans weren't in the stand and it was weird and quiet and fake music and fake crowd noises. What do you think this atmosphere is going to be like and how excited are you to experience this?

TRISTON MCKENZIE: I've never been able to be a part of a team that's been in a playoff hunt like this. Especially when fans were there. I got the pleasure to come to game in 2016 when we were in playoffs. I got the pleasure to come to game up here in 2017 when we were on a huge win streak. I know the fans are going to come out in full affect. I know they're going to be here and they're going to be loud. I'm just excited to see it.