AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 19, 2023

Bruce Bochy

Globe Life Field

Texas Rangers

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. How important of a game is this one?

BRUCE BOCHY: Just like the one last night. That was an important one, too. They're all important, not to cliché this, but I think this is how you look at every game in a postseason series. Sure, it's important on both sides.

Q. Are you expecting a similar workload for Andrew as you had in Baltimore?

BRUCE BOCHY: I'd say, yeah. He's good to go. We had him up three times there in Houston, and he's had a couple of days off. So he's good to go 75, 80 pitches, in that area. But we'll keep an eye on him. We have him covered in the bullpen.

Q. Short workload for Jon Gray yesterday. Did Jon look good to you?

BRUCE BOCHY: I thought his stuff was good. Velocity, '97, good slider, maybe not quite as sharp as he's been with his command, but not bad.

I thought it was good for him to get out there in that situation. He hasn't done it, and I think he's pitched in relief one time before that in his career. It was good to get some guys out there. I know we lost, but for them just make their debut, so to speak, it was good for them.

Q. This will be your guys' first game with the roof open for a while. Do you see that making any difference for you guys?

BRUCE BOCHY: I don't think so, no. I don't see it being any different. It's going to be a beautiful night. It's a beautiful ballpark with the roof open. I think you'll see that. So, no, I think we've had it open maybe 10, 12 times this year. I don't know the number. But, no, it's not going to make a difference.

Q. Is there any decision with Jordan Montgomery, or is that about as easy a decision as you've had to make for tomorrow?

BRUCE BOCHY: He's set to go tomorrow, yeah. It's his turn, so he's out there tomorrow.

Q. Is there any balance between sticking with what worked for him in Game 1 versus, hey, this team faced you a few days ago, they're going to clearly make adjustments and you've got to play that back-and-forth game?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, I think that's always the case. You read swings. That's what good pitchers do. He can do that. You make adjustments. Hitters make adjustments. Same thing with their pitchers and our hitters.

Q. How did Max come out in his start last night, and what do you anticipate in his near-term future?

BRUCE BOCHY: Yeah, you know what, I'll be honest, I haven't had a chance to talk to him. I've been busy with media obligations and things. I will talk to him about it and see how he comes out of it.

So far I've heard nothing but good news there. It was a little different when you face hitters versus you're pitching in a Championship Series. So I'm sure he feels it a little bit. But I'll check on him.

Q. What did you think about Leo's catch?

BRUCE BOCHY: Yeah, it was right up there with one of the best I've seen. We had Jankowski make a great one this season, and it was right up there. Really impressive.

And that's an area in his game I think he's just gotten so much better at, around that wall and him coming in. So he's just getting better and better, as I've said many times this week, in all aspects of his game.

Q. Is there anything different you see from Houston hitters when they hit here rather at Minute Maid?

BRUCE BOCHY: Gosh, I wish I had a good answer for you. Seems like we make more mistakes here, to be honest. That's what I see. Going back and going through the games, we're just not quite executing as well. You go to the earlier series in September, I mean, we made a ton of mistakes.

They're a good club. They're a really good hitting club, and they're going to take advantage of that. So I think we just have to do a little better job on our execution of pitches.