NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DODGERS VS BREWERS

October 12, 2026

Will Smith

American Family Field

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Last night Tarik was asked a question about you, he was asked about how you go about managing separating your offensive side versus calling the game, and I just was wondering when did you learn that about yourself? Obviously you've had so much success in your Big League career, but is that something that you learned when you were younger, and how have you found just kind of managing or even separating the two?

WILL SMITH: I don't know when I learned it, but it's definitely something you have to do in the Big Leagues. I think my rookie year put a big emphasis on that, talking to some of the older guys and stuff like that. Yeah, that's just part of my job.

Q. How much separating have you had to do this week just with kind of the way things have gone at the plate over these first five games?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, it's still the same job for me. At the plate I feel pretty good actually, just barely missing some pitches. I feel good behind the plate. I feel like trying to help the team win and I'm doing my job, and we're going to be in a fine spot.

Q. Is there anything about this just it comes from missing three months, only having like a month when you're trying to come back even though the numbers at the end of the regular season were good? Where did you feel your swing was at coming into the postseason and kind of what's been missing over these first few --

WILL SMITH: Yeah, I felt really good the last month, the last couple weeks, especially. I still feel good up there, swinging at the right pitches, taking good pitches, just barely missing balls. Pitchers are making good pitches to me.

It's been five games. Obviously want the results to be a little better, but at the end of the day, it's five games at the plate. No panic from me. So I'll be fine.

Q. With Yamamoto, the average velocity on his fastball and his splitter has been up this season. I wonder, as you catch it, do you notice any different characteristics in terms of movement that have gone along with the increase in velocity?

WILL SMITH: No, nothing too different. He's just really good. He's executing pitches. His command has been there like it's been the last couple of years. He's really fun to watch.

Q. With Phillips coming back, looked great last night. But what has he meant to the entire team to see him back and how popular he is in the clubhouse but just what he's done on the mound as well?

WILL SMITH: He's great. He's one of the guys in the bullpen we're going to lean on. He's got nasty stuff. He attacks the zone. The big moments don't speed up on him.

Those are the kinds of guys you want out there, and we're lucky to have him back.

Q. With Yamamoto, what is it about him that enables him to shine as much as he does in the postseason spotlight?

WILL SMITH: His execution is better than anybody. Obviously he's got really good stuff. He gets strike one, he puts guys away, he changes speeds. He's not afraid of the game and their hitters and all that. He just attacks. He's really convicted in everything he throws. He goes out there and puts himself in a good spot.

Q. To go back to your swing, when you're kind of just missing pitches like that or just getting underneath pitches like you were yesterday, what does that tell you about where your swing is at? Is there a cue you can find to correct that, or is that a thing where your swing is so turnkey that it's just a matter of one small change?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, it's just I do what I do, continue to work, try to grind it out in the cage, and figure it out.

Q. Does Yamamoto share with you what's in his notebook?

WILL SMITH: I mean, we're talking constantly, so it's probably the same stuff.

Q. He's not like, oh, I smoked this guy?

WILL SMITH: No (laughter).

Q. Dave said yesterday that he still ideally wants to keep you higher in the lineup. What does the faith that he's showing in you mean to you?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, I feel like I've earned everyone's trust here. It's the postseason. It's five games, so it's a little more elevated. I really don't think there's much to it.

Q. Having the extensive experience you do in the postseason, does that help at all when it doesn't get off to the right start?

WILL SMITH: For sure. I continue to trust myself, continue to just work in the cage, work through things, and go out, take a good at-bat. Yeah, that's about it.

Q. Is that something you feel like you developed throughout your career just given the amount of times you guys have been in this position in October?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, I think it's more so just the game of baseball. There's highs. There's lows. When you're not performing the way you want to, just continue to work, continue to try to get out of it quicker and not stay hitting poorly, I guess.