AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 20, 2023

Bruce Bochy

Globe Life Field

Texas Rangers

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. In the postseason, what's the camaraderie like? It seems like everybody shows up together. Everybody stay at the same hotel, instead of staying at their house, if they have one in the area? How tight-knit does it get in the postseason?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, I think it's similar to the season, really. When you travel, we're all at the same hotel. I will say tomorrow we'll travel. The team will travel together. Sometimes we have a day off, one guy needs to stay back for something or find his own way there.

But, no, we'll travel together. I think anytime that you're in the postseason it does bring the team closer together. You're fighting for a big cause. That's always a good thing and helps bring the guys together.

Q. How did the roller coaster of the last month of the regular season prepare you guys for the ups and downs of a playoff series like this?

BRUCE BOCHY: Yeah, good question. Really all season, with the ride that we've been on. The streaks, good and bad, injuries, those things. I think they all build character, and it teaches you how important it is to be resilient and have that ability to bounce back.

Nobody thought this was going to be easy. We won two in Houston, but we know how good they are. Hey, it's 2-2 now, and this club has bounced back so many times and I believe in them, and that will never stop.

Q. What went into the lineup adjustment you made and the batting order, specifically moving Taveras up and moving Garver and Heim down?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, I think as much as anything is the way they're swinging the bat. Leo has been swinging it well. So I just decided to move him to that 5 hole. Gives you speed, he's a switch hitter, and his timing is really good.

I think a couple of guys, fair to say, their timing is not quite what it normally is. We're facing a tough pitcher today in Verlander. So I just tweaked it a little bit. I put Jonah in the 9 hole. He's trying to find that timing, as I was just talking about. And same with Mitch.

So I just moved them to the back of the order, that's all, to try to get this offense sparked a little bit.

Q. What's kind of the plan going forward with Jon Gray? Does he need to be stretched out more at this point, if he wanted to make a start eventually down the road? What do you envision for him?

BRUCE BOCHY: He's not ready to start in this series. Right now he's going to help us in the bullpen. He can go multiple innings, a couple at least. So that's where he's at right now. I thought his stuff was good when he came in a couple of days ago, so that was encouraging, the fastball and the slider and the change I mentioned. He's fresh. He was off yesterday. So he's available to go today.

Q. How much do you think Eovaldi's previous postseason experience helps, with it being a potential closeout game for either team Sunday?

BRUCE BOCHY: I think anytime they're in the postseason, that's invaluable experience. That's never going to change. Guys learn how to perform under pressure, and it's a different game now, when you've been through it a few times.

It's not just good for you as an individual but with other players with how you can help them. And Nate has been through a lot with all of his experience in the postseason. So it's good to have him.

Q. Both pitchers pitched in Game 1. What's the balance of them sticking to their game plans and what they did well versus making adjustments when you're facing the same team again a couple days after the first time?

BRUCE BOCHY: I'm sure both of them will make adjustments. It's what the game is about. Sometimes you have to make adjustments, sometimes you don't. You're commanding the ball, you're staying with your strength. But there's times when you have to adjust on the fly, and that's what good players, great players do. And I think you'll see that today.