AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 15, 2026

Nick Martinez

Progessive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. How do you kind of handle the situation of maybe you play tomorrow, maybe you don't, just with the weather?

NICK MARTINEZ: I didn't even know about it until the walk over here. So we're just going to take it as we go, right? Not much you can control about that. Just be ready to go.

Q. You've talked to the guys heading into the postseason about the intensity, the level of focus. What have you thought about the way they've handled it, especially some of the first-timers who haven't been on this stage before?

NICK MARTINEZ: I thought we handled it great. I thought we responded well after the first game. We played a great game. They're a team that's not going to give in. We're going to have to fight for every out.

Q. I was going to ask you about Yandy and your impressions. I'm sure you've crossed paths with him over the years, but you've been with him all year and see what he does as a player, veteran, leader, that kind of thing.

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, he's very level-headed. He goes about his work like a true pro. He's an absolute presence in the batter's box. He's also one of our tone-setters as well.

Q. You have a reputation for being kind of the head of the social committee, the glue (indiscernible). Have you guys been able to have any dinners during this stretch? Are you kind of like head down right now until --

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, it's a little tough, obviously, with all the night games and getting into the cities kind of late. We are looking forward to after games to get together and have a good time.

Q. You've had some success this year against Cleveland. Their lineup has changed a lot since the trading deadline. How much have the last few games helped you to get a good look at some of the hitters maybe you didn't face as much in the regular season?

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, the two or three guys that they've added, I've pitched against them, except for maybe Bailey. I got him the second time.

But they added guys that fit their lineup very well, and those guys are also swinging it well since they've come over.

Again, from top to bottom, this lineup is very scrappy. They don't give away at-bats. They don't strike out. They're really tough outs.

It's just like my starts throughout the year; it's going to be a dogfight going in, just to see how many outs I can get for this team, it's important.

Just going into that, that's really the focus, right, knowing it's going to be a dogfight, knowing I've got to bring it every pitch and not give in.

Q. I know how much you prepare in your process getting ready for that. How have you handled sort of the uncertainty of you pitch out of the bullpen if needed, you could start --

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, a little bit different this year because I've started all year, but nothing new in my career, right? Just all hands on deck, especially this time of year, right? Every out is important, it doesn't matter when you get them.

Q. You've been sitting in the dugout or in the bullpen?

NICK MARTINEZ: The first game I sat in the bullpen; didn't really like it.

(Laughter).

Second game I had cleats on in case -- every game is important, whatever they need. But I was in the dugout with cleats on the second game.

Just whatever the team needs, I'm up for it. I think that's been my MO since coming back from Japan and my whole career, really. That's got to be the mentality for the rest of the year.

Q. To that note, where we see a lot of organizations, pitchers are really structured. It's hard for a bullpen guy to have that spot start and vice versa for you to go to the pen. What are the reasons, behind the scenes, that makes it easier to accept that your structure's a little more fluid?

NICK MARTINEZ: The communication's huge. They do a great job of, hey, this is what we're planning; this is what we may need.

And it makes it easier to know just when you're going to do your routine. The routine doesn't really change; am I doing it in the second inning, third inning, in the bullpen or am I doing it pregame for a start?

So the communication is the most important thing when your role might fluctuate. So they've done a great job of just letting me know what they're thinking so that I can best prepare for whatever they may need.

Q. On the same end, I think it was Griffin who had told us that other than Drew starting in Game 1 of the playoffs, the four of you were brought in and said, are you comfortable being -- and everyone said to a man, whatever we need. How much do you think you as a veteran setting that tone helps the other guys are accepting of that, and how important is that?

NICK MARTINEZ: I don't know if I've played a role in setting the tone in that. I think it speaks to the mentality of all of us, just being on the same page, understanding how important these games are, how important every out is, and the willingness we all have just to contribute in any way possible.

I think that speaks more to our mentality as a group and understanding just the importance of all of these games.