NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 9, 2023

Michael Harris, II

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. It's not often you find yourself in a situation where you feel like you have a must-win game, but describe the vibe in the clubhouse right now with the guys and the approach coming into tonight.

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: I guess it's still a little loose, but we know we need to put pressure on them because we gotta win three before they win two. It's a tough team on the other side and just gotta go out there and play our game.

Q. Austin was saying the other night, hey, we've gotta get back to slowing down the game. Do you think maybe there were some anxious at-bats or just some anxious approaches Saturday?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: Yeah. I feel like that just goes into not playing for a few days and I guess getting a little rest. I feel like we'll get back to that tonight and try to slow things down and get back to our game.

Q. You started a little slow this year and really righted the ship. Was there anything specific mechanically approach physically that you attribute that turnaround to?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: I guess I would just say having the injuries early, having them back to back. And then I guess that kind of caused a few mechanical issues with my, I guess, timing and swing.

So I guess that's pretty much the only thing. But my swing didn't feel as different. I guess it was just a little bit of mechanics thrown off.

Q. And to follow up, your out-of-zone contact rate was also much higher than it was last year. Anything mechanically you chalk that up to?

A. No. Nothing specific.

Q. Could you please follow up on what you said about it goes into not playing for a few days, how difficult is it to gear up after 162 games and having a week off and do you feel like you'd feel more in sync now if you had played last week?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: Yeah. Obviously we still played. We had the scrimmages, whatever. But I guess it didn't have the same intensity of a playoff game. And definitely going against a team as tough as the Phillies, things can kind of get up on you quick, and we had to just slow things down in situations.

But, yeah, I feel like the break sometimes, it could affect -- it could benefit, and it could hurt you, but I guess it depends on how you take it.

Q. Michael, how much of a challenge is that bullpen? You guys have faced a lot of good bullpens this year, but what about the Phillies and the stuff they have, the velo they had, the left-handers?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: Yeah. They're one of the better bullpens in the league. They all have good stuff. So it is pretty much faced them all year. It's still tough to pick them up because they're nasty. So just trying to have an approach against them and doing the job.

Q. Snitker wasn't ready to announce a Game 3 starter yet, but based on the depth you guys have shown all year, how confident are you in whatever plan you guys decide to go with?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: Yeah. I feel like all year whoever we call up is ready to do a job or ready to step in at whatever moment. We're all confident in each other, and I guess we're just excited to play behind whoever is on the mound.

Q. And I'm curious, you were a kid who grew up going to Braves games and the playoff run in '21. Was there a moment last year or this year where it kind of hit you that you were one of those guys that all the kids are watching?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: It was kind of around the same time last year in the playoffs, just knowing I was in the stands against the Dodgers. And they won the first two, hit a walk-off. It was pretty exciting to be up there, and then I guess a year later be on the field trying to do the same thing.

Q. Usually in baseball you get to come out the next day and play again. What was it like to sit with a loss with the off day yesterday, and how did you spend your Sunday?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: I don't know. It was kind of weird, but I guess we have more time to think about things and take a different approach.

And, honestly, I don't even know. That's kind of weird. We already had the days off, and then play one game and didn't go the way we wanted, so we got another day. I don't know. It was kind of weird.

Q. You've faced Wheeler now a couple of times. What's it like in the box going against him?

MICHAEL HARRIS, II: Honestly, I like to kind of compare him to deGrom. They kind of have the same stuff, same effectiveness. He throws a good fastball, good slider, mixes pitches well, goes in and out, up and down. So I guess it's just finding that pitch to hit and not missing it.