AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS VS MARINERS

October 8, 2025

Matt Brash

Comerica Park

Seattle Mariners

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. Matt, when you reflect on where you were at last year, just recovering, hoping to make a return this year, and now you're pitching meaningful innings and playoff games, just what's this last year been like for you?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I mean, it's been quite the journey, and this time last year I was still in Arizona kind of going through my throwing program, so I'm just super grateful, kind of taking each day one at a time and just happy to be back helping this team win games. This is everyone's favorite time of the year, so I've just been really excited to get back in there.

Q. Matt, just how much do you lean on your postseason experience from three years ago? And what is the feeling coming into a postseason game? You try to normalize everything like it's just another game, but it's got to feel a little different, doesn't it? Is there adrenaline? Added emotion with the fans in the stands? What is that like?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I mean, going back to a couple years ago, we got that little taste of the postseason. It's different. I mean, everyone says just treat it like another game, but like you said, the crowd's different. The adrenaline's different.

So you kind of just fall back to what you've been doing all year, going out there, attacking hitters, doing your thing. But like I said, the adrenaline's there. Your stuff's a little bit -- your velo's up. Your slider's moving more, whatever it is. So you just kind of use that to your advantage and go out there and compete and do your best. That's all you can do.

Q. There's been so much talk about the new additions you guys made to the roster this year, but for the returners from 2022, what have you noticed that's different about you guys this postseason compared to the last time you were in?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I feel like last time we just kind of got a taste, and we didn't really know what to expect, and I feel like this year we are here to win it all. We're not just here to win a series or make it to the next step.

We're here to win a World Series, and I feel like this roster is built to do that, from our pitching staff, a lot of familiar names that we've had for a couple years, and then we added some bats at the deadline, and I think everyone sees how complete our lineup is.

I mean, I feel like we just have that confidence to us that we're in every game. We're always going to pitch well, but our hitters are always there to pick us up and get that next run, which is huge in postseason.

So I just feel like we're such a complete team, and I feel like we're playing like it.

Q. Matt, back to that adrenaline. It seems like you're a guy that really feeds off of that. How have you channeled and maybe harnessed it over the course of transitioning into becoming a reliever? Because it seems like it would be different than being a starter.

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I mean, I've been -- I'm still working on it. Right? I feel like I come out there, and I'm trying to control the slider and the sinker, and sometimes it takes me a couple hitters, but you've really got to focus right from the first pitch because free bases lead to outings that you don't want and stuff that's kind of out of your control.

And that's what I'm focusing on, is coming in, competing from first pitch, going right at hitters.

And yeah, like you said, it's a different feel, but as the postseason goes on, especially like yesterday from me, I felt comfortable. I was going to go right at them, put the ball in play. And that's what I did.

So it's kind of a learning curve there, but I feel like each game we play everyone gets a little more comfortable and gets more used to it.

Q. Matt, what makes Andres Munoz so effective and so nasty back there?

MATT BRASH: I mean, other than his stuff, obviously -- everyone knows that -- I feel like he's just such a good competitor. I've seen him this year really grow into an elite closer. I feel like he's just ready to take the rock every day, and he's got that confidence and that swagger to him. And that paired with how good his stuff is, it's a really good combo. I feel like he's our rock back there, and we can always trust him that he's going to go out there and throw his best stuff every day of.

So I feel like he's come a long way in being this super solid back-end guy for us. And whenever he gets the ball, I feel like everyone has 100 percent confidence in him.

Q. Sort of sticking with that theme of Munoz there, he's such a light-hearted, nice dude. We talk about Walter with Logan all the time. Is there a flip you see with Muny back there too going into the ninth inning? And has he been able to -- talk about harnessing that, that edge, that mentality over the last few years too?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. Muny is like the nicest guy ever, but when he comes down there, he comes down there in the fifth usually, and he doesn't sit down. He's moving and he's locked in from Pitch 1. He's not really -- he's still obviously nice and friendly, but you can tell he's doing his own thing.

He's doing the same thing every day to get ready to pitch that ninth inning. And I think that goes to his preparation and how much work he puts in to being ready to throw every day.

And yeah, he's definitely a little bit more intense than that joyful, kind of smiley guy that's always in the clubhouse. He's locked in and ready to do his job, which is pretty cool to see.

Q. Matt, you were asked about the returners, that group from '22 that's still here. And I'm just curious how the experience of everything since you feel like has helped you guys collectively. Obviously you have postseason experience from that run, and then a lot of hurdles since then personally, collectively as a group. How do you think that seasoning has prepared you guys for a moment like that today?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I think our team is really cool because we do have a lot of guys that have come up through the Minors together, especially pitchers, and then we have some older guys that have came in and have really helped us that way.

And I feel like as a team we just mesh really well. And yeah, we've learned from our mistakes, but we work really well together. Like I said, I pitched in the minors with George and Emerson, and Woo and Bryce not very far behind in that. And it's really cool to go on this journey with them.

And then with Geno and Nayls and Polanco and some of these veterans that have been here before, it's just a really good combo, and I feel like everybody's super comfortable right now, which is super rare for a postseason.

Q. What have you learned from the workload intensity of the postseason, where it's all hands on deck on any given night and how to prepare for that mentally and physically, and how did the HP staff helps you get to this point?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. Everybody wants to pitch in the postseason, and with that you've got to be ready every day.

It definitely takes a toll on your body, but with the adrenaline, you feel great. And our staff is amazing. They keep us right. They've got me back from surgery and back into a great spot where I feel really good too. So I have full faith in them. But once it comes game time, everyone is feeling good. It's hard not to. Like you said, it's all hands on deck, but everybody wants to be in there anyways.

Q. Matt, you mentioned last year being in Phoenix. They brought you back a couple times, but when you're in Phoenix and they're grinding out, trying to find a way in, how far away did baseball feel from you, from being from the team? And are you a different pitcher now than you were before the injury?

MATT BRASH: Yeah. I mean, it was tough watching some of those games, especially when my spot would come up kind of in the later innings, and I want to be out there helping the guys and making that postseason push, because I feel like we had a really talented team last year too, obviously.

But there's not much you can do from where I was. But it gives you motivation to get back and to want to be pitching in these meaningful games.

And, I mean, I feel like I'm a different pitcher, but still the same. I still have the same mentality. I'm going to go right at guys. I'm going to throw my best stuff. I'm going rip my slider. I'm going to do my thing.

But I feel like I'm a little more polished now. I can locate my sinker a little better. I have a changeup. I have a couple more weapons to get guys out instead of just throwing hard and trying to figure out where to throw my slider.

So I feel like I've come a long way, and I'm really excited to see where I keep going with it. But yeah. Like I've been saying, I'm just excited to be here and with this team, and I just can't wait to see what we do.