AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 12, 2026

Yandy Diaz

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. At some point during this series, you're going to set the franchise record for most games played in the playoffs. What does that mean to you?

YANDY DÍAZ: I think that means one thing, it means I'm getting old. But aside from that, I'm really happy. Really happy, and really grateful for this organization and how they've treated me. Just to be a part of this history, to have those many games in the postseason with this group is something really special and something I'm very proud of and something I'll cherish forever.

Q. Talk about your time here. You were traded here, obviously, from Cleveland. You hadn't played a lot over there. Have you allowed yourself to reflect on how you got the opportunity here, and how it allowed you to build the career you've had?

YANDY DÍAZ: Look, thank you to Cleveland for making me a professional. I started my career there. I signed my first pro contract there.

But also I'm happy with the way things worked out. I'm happy that, you know, I was traded over here to Tampa Bay, in my opinion, the best organization in the league. I've made my career here.

So that's something I'm really proud of. I'm grateful for everything, but happy to be here in Tampa Bay.

Q. Just seeing what the Cleveland pitching staff did in the ALDS, especially the strikeouts they were able to rack up, how do you feel like this lineup matches up against them?

YANDY DÍAZ: Look, they've got a great staff. They're here for a reason. But at the end of the day, we're really good, too.

We don't have to overcomplicate things; we just have to play our style of baseball and we have to be our own type of hitters. The way I see it, it's a chess game at this point, us against them. We've got to be smart about things, and we've got to play our style of baseball and go from there.

Q. Just out of curiosity, is this a new look for the ALCS?

YANDY DÍAZ: I think it brought me good luck. I cut it this way last time, too, in the ALDS, and we swept the Yankees 3-0. So hopefully this time around it brings me the same amount of luck and we'll sweep Cleveland, 4-0.

Q. What did this team learn against the Yankees in the ALDS that could potentially push them forward here in this series?

YANDY DÍAZ: Just keep a positive mindset. We did our job the entire time, and we had a strong mentality and that pushed us the entire way. So hopefully that will do the same thing here.

Q. You've been here for a good amount of years with the organization. What's different about this group, what's different in your eyes in terms of other teams?

YANDY DÍAZ: Everything. Everything from the beginning of Spring Training, this team has been really united from the players, the coaching staff, everybody's just gotten along.

And there's really good harmony this time around, just something I haven't seen in other teams. I've been on great teams, but this team is something different, something special.

Q. Given what happened in the Yankees series, what is the clubhouse mood right now? How do you assess your club coming into this series?

YANDY DÍAZ: Really good. There's a lot of confidence in that clubhouse right now. We all feel really good, really motivated. I think that's the biggest thing, just motivated to get the job done.

We have to be smart, like I said before. We have to be smart and do our job and play the right way and play to our style and go from there.

Q. Victor Mesa Jr. said you've given him some advice and helped him along a little bit along the way. What do you think of what he's done since he came up here in late May and the way he's played for you guys?

YANDY DÍAZ: He's been great for us. He's been really, really good for us. And he's done such a good job all year long for this group.

He didn't really have a good amount of playing time -- or he wasn't given the time that he should have gotten in Miami, just the playing time wasn't there for him.

So now being here, he's taken full advantage of that playing time, and he's been such a good boost for us throughout the season. And you saw it in New York, here in the postseason.