NL WILD CARD SERIES: PADRES VS CUBS

September 30, 2025

Seiya Suzuki

Matthew Boyd

Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs

Postgame Press Conference

Cubs 3, Padres 1

Q. Seiya, you talked on Sunday about watching the YouTube video of the fans, the crowd. How would you describe the experience and what it was like rounding the bases in that moment?

SEIYA SUZUKI: I mean, just simply put, it was fantastic. You just felt the passion of the fans, them cheering us on. Rounding the bases, I felt some nerves, obviously, but great feeling overall.

Q. Matt, I saw you coming out of the bullpen to warm up a little bit. I saw you take a moment in center field by yourself. What was that like and what was going through your mind before that?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, usually that's kind of a typical prestart for me. But just -- I guess it's kind of changed over my time. That's just a moment to just remember that I'm a big leaguer, remember that I get to pitch in a big league stadium today, I get to pitch in Wrigley Field, and just kind of take in the moment. It's pretty special. It's something that's not lost on me, and it was exciting to just -- you could feel the energy today.

I know it was a fun moment just to sit back for a second, and man, this is something special you'll never forget.

Q. Matthew, a couple plays by Dansby today saved at least two runs. Just the defense as a whole, that's obviously a big confidence boost for pitchers, but what did you see from your teammates out there today?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, they were making great plays. Pitching in front of this defense gives you a ton of confidence. Dansby, it's just you pick a day, you get to pick a new hero because it's like they're always flying around. Carson was great behind the plate. Nico made some great plays in the infield.

Dansby made those huge plays, that ball going back on -- Seiya made some plays out there. Pete made some plays happen. Matt stabbed that ball in the first inning. That's kind of our brand of baseball, right, and it gives you a ton of confidence when you're out there as a pitcher just to fill it up and know that the guys back there, they're going to do their thing. It's pretty awesome.

Q. Seiya, if you could share the name of your special guest here with you at the press conference, and if he had any sort of reaction to your big swing or any sort of thoughts about your play today.

SEIYA SUZUKI: His name is Hiroto. And his reaction was he was crying. But just with the home run, I feel like it was a breakthrough moment where it was a decisive moment with I think feeling the crowd and the passion they had and with the way Boyd was pitching, too, I think in that moment the fans really got behind us, and I think -- for one, I want to thank the fans, too.

Q. Matt, two questions for you. First, in the past week Craig was talked a lot about it doesn't matter who, but some guys are going to have to step up in the postseason. What was it like seeing three guys in their first postseason game drive in each of the runs and seeing guys step up in that way in those moments?

MATTHEW BOYD: It's our brand of baseball, right. I've said that a few times already today, but that's who we are. We're not dependent on one guy, and I believe no moment is too big for anybody in our lineup, anybody in our bullpen, in our rotation. It's like you don't know who's going to be the guy tomorrow or today, but it's awesome when it happens.

No surprise that it was Seiya and Carson today doing that thing at the plate. It was pretty awesome, and man, it was fun to watch from the dugout.

Q. Just the bullpen, obviously what they've been doing this season, just how would you describe what the group collectively has meant and then just watching them be perfect in relief of you?

MATTHEW BOYD: I mean, they've been awesome all year. We've had multiple -- throughout the season, they've just been steadfast, and it's been awesome.

Again, same kind of thing; you pick a guy down there, they're going to be the hero for the day, and guys have stepped up in huge spots. I mean, today from Danny coming in and picking me up to Brad and Kitt and -- I'm forgetting somebody in there. But it was awesome. Those guys, they've done it all year. They did it today. They've been huge for us.

Q. Seiya, when you signed here, it was in part to have moments like this and get the Cubs back into the playoffs. From the time that you signed to now, to finally have this moment, what does that mean to you?

SEIYA SUZUKI: With the previous three years, we couldn't make it to the playoffs. So I was watching the playoffs on TV, and there was a sense of frustration.

But this year with this team, these teammates, we've battled for 162 games. The difficult times and the good times, everything included. It felt great.

Especially with the win, I'm just kind of looking forward to keep on playing, keep on grinding it out with my teammates and hopefully play as long as we can together.

Q. Seiya, is there any way to explain the home run binge you've been on this week? Is there anything that caused it or created it, or is it one of those things that is just inexplicable?

SEIYA SUZUKI: Yeah, I can't really explain it. I think with the past week coming into this game, I feel like there's been a playoff switch that's been turned on. I think with today, it's not just me; I think that homer was just the result of all my teammates being there and supporting me, all the fans. I think everybody was involved in that.

But I can't really explain it. I think with the win, the home run, obviously I'm very happy.

Q. Seiya, Nick Pivetta threw so many fastballs today. Was that what you were looking for when you came up there and hit the homer?

SEIYA SUZUKI: Yeah, so with that first at-bat, I couldn't get that fastball out in front, and it just felt faster than what it was popping up on the radar gun. At that at-bat I was just thinking fastball and staying aggressive with it.