AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2026

Stephen Vogt

Rate Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for Stephen Vogt.

Q. From your perspective, like, the difficulty of these 3:00 games, both with the shadows offensively and defensively, is there any way to even prepare for that sort of thing going in?

STEPHEN VOGT: I think we've played enough games -- both teams have played enough games this time of day, the second half of a 1:00 game or the early part of a 5:00 game to where it is what it is. Both teams are going to have to deal with it. We know it's out there. Everyone's played in Minor League games with shadows. It's not a surprise, so you just go and you battle. That's the reality.

Q. Backs against the wall, elimination game. In an environment like this, expected to be loud and fun here, what do you like about playing in a situation like this?

STEPHEN VOGT: It's awesome. I mean, obviously you don't want to be down 0-2. You don't want to be in this position to where you need to win three in a row, but there's nothing better than playoff baseball. Road, home, doesn't matter. I think the crowd is going to be excited. The crowd is going to be into it. That's great. That makes a great environment to go play baseball.

Whether it's for you, against you, I always say -- I always ask the players, what do you like better? Do you like to make 50,000 people go crazy, or do you like to shut 50,000 people up? They're both very different feelings, but they're equally as fun.

So it's going to be a great environment. I'm looking forward to it. Like I said yesterday, I've never seen this stadium rocking the way it's going to be rocking today, so I'm excited to see it.

Q. Stephen, can you discuss the unique challenges of a game of this magnitude against a team that has obviously mixed and matched their pitching staff unpredictably a bit and as well as they have?

STEPHEN VOGT: Again, it's been this way against them through the regular season. They do a good job of not knowing what they're going to do. But there's no surprises. We know who they have. We know how they like to deploy. They might do it in a different order, but we're going to see who gets up in the bullpen so we can prepare.

All of our hitters have faced all of their pitchers. We know them. They know it. So it is challenging, but we're ready for it.

Q. Stephen, what have you thought of Lowe? Did you move him up in the lineup today?

STEPHEN VOGT: We're the same lineup as we had on whatever day we played last. Sorry. Monday.

Q. What have you thought of him since acquiring him?

STEPHEN VOGT: Nate's been outstanding, just the at-bat quality, the presence, the maturity. Really stabilized the middle of our order with just a professional at-bat every time out. Whether it's versus left, versus right, you know you're going to get a quality at-bat.

He's just continued to be a leader in this clubhouse in helping the younger guys understand how they're going to be pitched, the mindset in the box. Couldn't thank Nate enough for what he's done for us.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for coming in.