NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 10, 2022

Ranger Suarez

Truist Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. What do you think about Rob Thomson getting a two-year extension and being the manager for the next two years?

RANGER SUAREZ: I'm very happy for him, the way he took over the team, at the time he took over, and he did such a tremendous job. I'm very, very happy for him. He's very deserving of this.

Q. How did he do a tremendous job? What did you like about him?

RANGER SUAREZ: He's just a very good person. He let us be ourselves. There's a lot of freedom that we feel when we're around him. And the most important thing is that we're comfortable because we can be ourselves.

Q. What do you see as the biggest challenge with the Braves lineup?

RANGER SUAREZ: I faced them a couple times in the regular season. I know they're a really good team. That's no secret there. But I try not to think too much about that challenge, because that's why we're at this stage of the year. It's going to be a tough battle. But it's something that I try not to think too much about.

Q. Is your family here, or will they be watching back home?

RANGER SUAREZ: They're in Venezuela, and they'll be watching from Venezuela.

Q. Do you think the familiarity you have with the Braves lineup that you have could be an asset heading into this series?

RANGER SUAREZ: Like I said before, I've faced them a lot this year, years prior. There's no secret between them and me. They know what I do. I know what they do. So I think tomorrow's going to be a very special day.

Q. What does it mean to you to have this opportunity considering how far you've come, the road you took? Last year you started as a long man. You go to the bullpen, you go into the rotation, now you're the Game 1 starter.

RANGER SUAREZ: Ever since I was a kid, I've been dreaming about this moment. So to have the opportunity tomorrow, knowing that the team trusts me enough to do this, it's very special to me, and it means a lot to me.

Q. You're a lefty obviously. Zack and Aaron are righties what did you learn from watching them pitch in St. Louis, if anything?

RANGER SUAREZ: Watching Wheeler and Nola do their thing in St. Louis was incredible. I love how they go about their business. Something that I learn from them all the time is how they attack hitters. It's just amazing how they do it.

Q. Aside from the final out, of course, when you guys won the other day, what was your favorite part of that first series watching it?

RANGER SUAREZ: There were a couple. Segura's RBI late in the game, that first game was huge for us. So I celebrated that big time.

The second day, Harper's homer, that got me excited. That was really nice.

And, like, overall, the team defense was really good. The double plays that were made. Plays that were made down the stretch that really mattered, that were really important for us to close the game. That I enjoyed a lot.

Q. On the defense, what have you witnessed over the year that's changed about the way that the team has played on defense? Like, you look at the big series that someone like Bohm has had. Does it affect how you pitch at all?

RANGER SUAREZ: The work that Bohm has done speaks for itself. He goes out every day to get better. And it's not only him; it's everyone in the clubhouse. We all go out to get better. We're trying to be better as a team because this is what we do.

Q. You just mentioned Alec. How much more confidence does it give you as a ground-ball pitcher to know that the guy at third base has improved as much as he has and that maybe some of those ground balls he's going to get to now, where maybe in the past they might have gotten through?

RANGER SUAREZ: I've always had plenty of confidence in Bohm, good times or bad times. I know he's my third baseman. And the thing is I see it every day. I see his work every day. I know he tries hard every day. So to see the results he's looking for every day is really good. I'm pretty confident we're going to have a pretty good series against these guys.