NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DODGERS VS BREWERS

October 12, 2025

Blake Snell

American Family Field

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. This is a lineup that prides itself on putting the ball in play. Just kind of take me through what you can of how that matches up with your strengths heading into Game 1?

BLAKE SNELL: I was able to watch last night's game. So that was fun. Yeah, they feed off of each other. It's a very energetic lineup. They're really good. Like you said, they put the ball in play. You make them swing at your pitches good pitches. You figure out what they're good at, what they're not good at, and that will just tell you how to attack them.

I can't say like too much because they're going to watch this -- or you would intend that they would. But, I mean, it's a really good lineup. I'm not falling for the average Joes; they're not. They have the best record in the NL. They're a really good team.

Q. Along those lines, their lineup is full of guys who, once they're on base, like to run and can move. How much does that change what you do on the mound? And how much extra effort do you have to put into keeping them close for your catchers?

BLAKE SNELL: The goal is to keep them off the bases. If they're on the bases, it depends on which runner is on base. No matter what, it will change the way you view them -- the leg lift to home, the time, the looks, disrupting that.

But, like, I've studied them. I understand who is running, who is not running, counts, all that. If we get to that point, then I'll be ready for it and well aware of it.

Q. Obviously you would like to be healthy all year. But to have three of the four guys in your rotation who didn't have a ton of innings in the regular season, do you think that's been a benefit as you guys have gotten into October here, which is kind of how fresh you are?

BLAKE SNELL: Yeah, I think on the fresh part for sure. I think we were able to throw enough innings to where we can learn from mistakes and get a lot better from that as well. So I really like where the starting staff's at. Yoshi is really the only guy that really posted the whole year.

But for everybody else, to be healthy, feeling good, confident with the amount of innings they had on the season, to be able to pitch in the postseason, I really like where we're at.

Q. Coming into this postseason, you talked about wanting to get deeper into playoff games. What has allowed you to do that in these first couple of starts that you've had?

BLAKE SNELL: I think it's just mindset. As you get older, you learn a lot more, you understand pitching, you understand how important belief is. And you just get better just with age and understanding the game and situations and what pressure really is and how awesome these moments are. I think age has made me a lot better.

Q. I know you were on the IL when these teams had their season series, but how would you say that the Dodgers have changed in those months since?

BLAKE SNELL: I mean, we haven't beat them. So that's good motivation, if you need it. But, no, I just think we're playing good team baseball. We're all in it. The chemistry between us is really strong, and the want to win every game is strong as well.

I've been on postseason teams where it's been different. But energy-wise, chemistry-wise, it's probably the best I've been a part of. I'm really excited for what we can do.

Q. Just to piggyback off that, I know you've talked game plan and obviously not wanting to go into specifics, but considering that you were hurt when the team did play here, is there any information that you can kind of take from talking to other guys who did face them? I know you're someone who does like to have a lot of information going into your starts. Is that conversations you've had either with your other teammates, guys in the rotation, or how did you go about taking in some of this information?

BLAKE SNELL: I didn't ask anybody. I just watched games, the footage. I watched yesterday's game. The playoff games are going to give you the best idea of who they are, how they handle the pressure, or how they play on the road, how they play at home, what's different.

So by watching that, just gave me a lot of insight on each hitter, what they can do, what I think I can get away with, where I can attack.

The biggest thing is watching the game. If you watch the game, you watch players, at-bats, how they handle failure, success, it really helps you understand the player.

And then when it's the one-on-one match-up in the box and I'm on the mound, that's where you understand, like, was I right, was I wrong? And you feel the at-bat out and learn how to pitch.

Q. I'm sure you know from playing in San Diego and San Francisco how people there feel about the Dodgers, but I wonder if you look in Seattle where you grew up, never been to a World Series, these guys never been, to win one, you think people around the country outside Los Angeles are, like, yeah, we'd like a fresh face? Or do you think they're rooting for you guys?

BLAKE SNELL: I don't know. I think they would root for us. That's a wide question. I don't know. I think, yeah, maybe we just won one -- the Dodgers did, not me. But, yeah, I don't know.

I know, being from Seattle, how important a World Series is there and the fans, how excited they are and how crazy the city was in Seattle after they beat Detroit. So I was well aware of that.

But I haven't looked into that too much, but I'm sure whoever wins the World Series, they'll be happy.