AL WILD CARD SERIES: WHITE SOX VS ASTROS

September 29, 2026

Hagen Smith

Daikin Park

Chicago White Sox

Postgame Press Conference

White Sox - 6, Astros - 3

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for Hagen Smith.

Q. Having not talked to you yet, what was your reaction when you found out you were starting Game 1, and obviously how did you feel about the stuff today, pretty successful couple innings?

HAGEN SMITH: Yeah, it was cool just to get the opportunity to go out there and do that. And, yeah, just try to go out there and compete the best I can for the team and give us the best chance to win.

Q. What was working for you in those three innings? You really seemed to have them off balance.

HAGEN SMITH: Yeah, just Kyle did a great job game planning for me and trusting him back there. And, yeah, just kind of attacking it with everything. A lot of cutters and sliders and just kind of attacking with those a lot early, and heaters here and there.

Q. When you're facing a hitter like Yordan Álvarez, what's kind of going through your head, and how do you think that you attacked him effectively tonight?

HAGEN SMITH: He's a great hitter. Obviously when you look at the scouting reports you kind of circle him as one of the guys that you try not to let him beat you. And, yeah, just trying to go to go out there and do the same thing I always do. Just not make the moment too big for that certain hitter, and just try to attack him with my strengths.

Q. Were you kind of given a range for how long you might get into the game? Was there potentially more on the plate or were you just kind of going out there inning by inning, hitter by hitter?

HAGEN SMITH: Yeah, I had no idea. I was just going to go out there and until they told me not to.