NL WILD CARD SERIES: CUBS VS PADRES

September 30, 2026

Dansby Swanson

Petco Park

Chicago Cubs

Pregame Press Conference

Q. You guys have talked all season long about this team's ability to kind of reset and start anew each new day. Are you seeing that so far today, and how do you think that's going to be able to benefit you guys today?

DANSBY SWANSON: I think we've all -- this whole year we've had opportunities to respond to adversity, and this is obviously no different. We have such a professional group, a group that prides itself on getting better each and every day no matter the circumstance. So business as usual in that regard.

Q. What is it like knowing you guys have Gausman starting tonight, given his experience in big playoff moments like this and just seeing his track record?

DANSBY SWANSON: He's pitched in a lot of big games in his career, in his life. We were thrilled to be able to acquire him at the deadline just knowing that experience and what he brings, the toughness, the pitch ability, and being able to have him on our team to help navigate through moments like this is a big part of why he's here.

He's been so good for us all year in big moments, and I expect nothing different tonight.

Q. From your experience, what's the key in games like today?

DANSBY SWANSON: Really and truly, it's just about being locked in on every pitch, just laying it all out there and understanding that we're at our best when we do what we do best.

At this time of year, it can be challenging because you go so in depth with the other team and trying to navigate what they're going to do, what we're going to do. I think the greatest reminder is, if we do what we do best, then we feel like we're a really good baseball team.

Q. Yesterday Craig went with Pedro at third. Today he goes with Matt Shaw. You saw what Pedro did when you were out. Just what's it like knowing those are the two guys you have behind the main group when something happens with Bregman or happened with you or somebody else?

DANSBY SWANSON: The depth of this group has definitely been a strength, a guy who's able to play multiple positions, able to put together great at-bats off different types of pitchers, and really just the personality piece. Great guys in the clubhouse and the ability to just add to our roster in terms of whether it's hitting left-handed pitching, right-handed pitching, being able to play second base, third base, slide around wherever is needed.

Without them, I doubt that we're in a position that we're in right now. So thankful for those guys, thankful for what they bring every day. Very glad that they're on our team.

Q. We've asked Bregman questions like every day since that day in Cincinnati, and he came back so quickly. Can you just put it into context, like what he's done and kind of what he's playing through and how kind of crazy it is when you take a step back and see what's happened over the past ten days or so?

DANSBY SWANSON: I think, if anyone knows Breggy, some facial fractures weren't going to stop him. He's dedicated to this game. He's dedicated to his craft. He's dedicated to his teammates, trying to find ways each and every day to not only personally get better, but to be able to help guys on the team get better.

It's been so fun being able to be on a team with him, just seeing what he does every day and what he brings to a group. I expect nothing else out of him at this point, doing whatever he can to be able to go out there, take the field. He knows that we're better when he's out there.

Q. Obviously you didn't really get much game action coming back from your injury. Just how have you been feeling with where your swing is at and just your comfort level in the box?

DANSBY SWANSON: Obviously baseball is a game that's meant to be played every day. When you miss a significant amount of time, it presents its own challenges coming back into it. I think kind of somewhat accepting that and going through the rehab process and understanding the position I was going to need to be in in order to get back to be as good as I can be was something that did drive me during that timeout.

It's like unfortunately, but also fortunately, having that time to be able to just kind of reflect and be able to do whatever I can to get back on the field and help this team win baseball games.

That's what I feel is a strength of mine as part of this group, and so thankful to be part of a group that is willing to step up in each and every way and not to overly say that I have to be the one to get things done or whatever. We're a group, we're a team, and we continue to push forward in that way.

Q. What's it been like to see Pete do what he's done this year with the idea that he's still so early in his career and he's got so much more to learn from and use to get better over the years?

DANSBY SWANSON: I think one of the really impressive things about Pete is the thing we've always seen, the physical ability, just the tools that he has, the strength, the defense, the base running. But to be able to really slow the game down this year and understand what he's trying to do at the plate to be able to -- I don't know if we've seen as significant of like a change in like walk rate or swing rate and all those kinds of things as we have with him.

He's just gotten so good at knowing what he's trying to do, how he's trying to execute, and been really stubborn at sticking to that. I think that's one of the big reasons why you've seen his game go into a new level is the ability to like mentally process things much quicker than it was earlier in his career. I think obviously that will only continue to get better.

To be able to do that at such a young age with more or less the different pressures you may have on you and attention on you, he's handled it so gracefully. It's been really, really cool to watch. Obviously having been somewhat in his shoes before and then being on like the older side, the veteran side of things, it's really cool to see him go through that and handle things the way he does.

Q. Obviously you guys have one of the best defenses in baseball, MVP candidate having a crazy, great season, and one of the best offenses. How important is it to take advantage of a season like this when you have the opportunity in the playoffs?

DANSBY SWANSON: I think each year is its own year, right? I think we don't really pay too much attention to those kinds of things. I think this group knows what it's capable of, so it's always reaching for the highest of heights that it can. That's one thing that I do love about this group is the relentless pursuit of really greatness together.

That's something that we've done all year. It's been kind of like a consistent mentality of ours all year. That's why it's so fun to be in positions like this because this is -- you know, being in situations like this is something that can only add to that confidence and to that mentality.

Q. Maybe a dumb question, but you guys from a distance obviously have a phenomenal defense. You've got great defensive players. That's got to be a huge part of it. Do you feel like this team maybe the last couple years compared to other teams you've been on puts an extra emphasis on that at all or goes out of the way to take advantage of the fact that you have the kind of defensive talent you do?

DANSBY SWANSON: It's almost like the last of a dying breed, right? Just like defense, no matter how great we've been offensively and the things we've done on the base pass, defense really is kind of our calling card.

It's interesting because it's not like something I would say that we like go above and beyond to work on it more. Jed and company have put together a great defensive roster obviously because we understand that defense really can change games. When you have Gold Glove-caliber defenders all over the yard, it makes it really tough on teams.

We understand that going out there and doing our part makes it hard for people to score on us. It's really fun to be a part of something like that. Give a lot of credit to the front office for being able to put together a team that is capable of doing more things than just playing defense, but it's wild when you go from really great defenses to not great defenses and like how much it can change things. We've been so consistent at remaining true to ourselves all year.

Q. Yesterday Gausman was saying that you treat this game like any other game except there's all those yellow towels flying around, and it can feel like momentum in these games in the postseason can feel even more real. What's it like managing that side of the game and the postseason?

DANSBY SWANSON: The biggest thing is accepting that it is the same game, right? It's the same rules other than the extra innings if there's not somebody on second base. But it's the same rules.

And being able to embrace that we are prepared and we've just got to go leave it all out there each and every day, each and every pitch, every inning and understanding that things can turn it one swing of the bat, one play in the field, one pitch, and just consistently attacking each and every pitch, whether it's on offense or defense.

Q. The pitching staff has obviously been through a lot this season. Can you just describe what it's been like watching how Counsell, the staff have pieced it together, especially at this point in the season and in a game like this where obviously it's all hands on deck?

DANSBY SWANSON: It's kind of wild when you like kind of ride it out, just the injuries that we've sustained, the things that we've gone through in the pitching department itself. Give a lot of credit to the guys that are here now, obviously Tommy and the rest of the pitching staff for being able to consistently find ways to improve the group and get guys better.

Then you look at just some of the acquisitions and all those kinds of things and really being able to identify traits that are going to play well at this time of year. It's really impressive what Counsell is able to do really putting each guy in a great position to succeed. It sounds simple, but he does it at a really, really high rate. I think it's something that he's really, really good at.

He's done well for the pitching staff, and they've obviously rewarded him in the same way by throwing the ball well. Very thankful for that and the hard work that everyone's done to be able to get to this point. Hopefully we'll go out there and put together a complete performance tonight.