NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 7, 2023

Nick Castellanos

Truist Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Nick, Zack was just in here talking about how much he loves having Johan Rojas in center field, and I'm wondering why you might love having Johan Rojas in center field as a right fielder?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I mean, other than he is really good at tracking down fly balls and catching them, he covers a lot of ground. Also, for him being so young, he commands the outfield well, and he goes off of instincts. I don't think he waits for Pache to move or even tell me to nudge a little bit to the right or left.

Q. Nick, what's the preparation like for a guy like Strider, who you guys have seen a lot, you know as a right-hander hitter, you're probably going to see two types of pitches from him. What is the prep work like?

NICK CASTELLANOS: Well, there's just different drills that guys do to get on top of his fastball, just because of how much ride it has, and then just kind of really developing a game plan that you want because the reality is he is a strike-out pitcher, you know.

So kind of pick which part of the plate you're looking for, and just commit to it and don't try to cover the half, because when you have a guy who has stuff like his, that's very difficult to do.

Q. And I know you don't see your own bullpen, but the stuff that is coming out of your bullpen this year compared to last year, how much better do you think it is and what kind of weapon could that be in this series for you?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I think anytime you have a back end bullpen where multiple guys can throw 100, as well as somebody who's been in the moment over and over again as well as Craig Kimbrel. I mean, it's good. There's no question about it.

So just to be able to get to the bullpen with a chance to win, I think puts the game in our favor.

Q. Nick, this match up, Phillies/Braves, they won the season series, but you guys played them pretty tough. A lot of games were decided late. Why do you think you match up well with them, and as a baseball fan, are you guys eager and excited for this series just given it's two of the better teams?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I'd say we're eager and excited for the series because it's the next chapter on the journey to get a ring. And I think that, you know, right now the way that we feel about each other is we would look forward to play anybody, honestly. It just happens to be the Braves.

Q. Nick, have you been following or are you aware that Phillies fans are in a death fight with the Braves mascot on Twitter?

NICK CASTELLANOS: Jess mentioned something earlier today. She thought it was funny, but I didn't really pay too much attention.

Q. Who would you take in a fight; Blooper or the Phanatic?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I have no idea. I'm going to say the Phanatic only because I play for the Phillies, but I mean, you know.

Q. When you face a pitcher like Strider that you've seen a lot, the more plate appearances that you have against the same guy, do you feel that like the scales tip more towards you or towards the pitcher as you see them more and more often?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I mean, it depends, honestly. When you have a guy like Strider and you also have talented hitters, it's just going to be who really executes their plan, you know. I don't know if that answers your question, but I think it's going to be whoever develops a game plan and executes it better.

Q. Another question about Strider. Describe the slider that he throws and maybe compare with others that you see around the league?

NICK CASTELLANOS: I would say that his slider compared to other guys around the league, like it doesn't jump out at something like spectacular. But what makes it really good is he has one of the best fast balls in baseball. So you have to honor that. The more you honor his fastball, the more you're susceptible to his off-speed pitches.