AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 17, 2026

Nick Martinez

Progressive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Rays - 7, Guardians - 3

Q. Can you just take us through what you were feeling between that first inning and back out into the second?

NICK MARTINEZ: Jacked up, I guess would be a good way to describe it. Obviously, a great atmosphere. These fans are fantastic. They're pulling for their guys.

You know it's going to be a dogfight, like I said before the start. They're a team that doesn't give up. We're also a team that doesn't give up.

Not ideal to give up a run in the first inning, but just gotta stay in the fight and trust that my guys are going to back me up.

Q. We know how important the change-up is to you in your arsenal. What changed throughout the game where you got more comfortable with that pitch?

NICK MARTINEZ: I mean, I was comfortable with it. Pregame bullpen, was feeling good. Maybe just that first inning, didn't land a couple.

And then it's a pitch that I rely on. I know I can throw it. It's a pitch that I know I can find, especially the more I throw it.

Just trusted that I can get it back in the zone, and was able to do that.

Q. You talked about your ability to be flexible wherever Cash needs you, but to see Peralta coming in from the pen right there, how does that feel, just starter to starter?

NICK MARTINEZ: He saved me. He saved our game today. Again, not ideal to walk the lead-off guy up 2-1 late in the game. He came in in a big spot. And those were a huge couple of outs for us.

Q. You and the rest of the rotation have covered 61 percent of the team's innings so far in this postseason. You guys are providing so many innings, covering so much of the game. How do you think it sets up the rest of the team for success?

NICK MARTINEZ: We have some guys that can set the tone, starting with Drew. And you can go down the list with Freddy and Jax and myself. I think we have a lot of confidence in our preparation and in the work we do with Snyde And Monkey and our catchers and believing in our defense.

And I think that takes a load off, right, knowing that we have 25 guys behind us, and we can be aggressive in the zone knowing that our guys are going to back us up.

Q. What does it mean that you know you're going to have another game at Tropicana Field in front of your crowd? I know there's another big game tomorrow, obviously, that could swing the series, but to know you're going back home --

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, going back home is huge, man. The fans have been fantastic. We've been feeding off their energy all year. It feels good to give them another game and hopefully swing it back in our favor.

Q. Looking back to the first inning with Mesa making that throw to second, how important do you think that was for your outing and just to get you in the groove without limiting too much damage?

NICK MARTINEZ: Huge. That was absolutely huge. Lead-off hit followed by a big out. Obviously, you know, José is a nightmare of an at-bat. Guy's come through countless times in his career for this team.

Again, it's a team that they're always fighting. There's a lot of stressful pitches going on. To get an out there, and then DeLauter has been swinging a pretty hot bat this series. And for Victor to get me a second out, it definitely helped get me into the groove, yeah.

Q. When it comes to the lineup behind you, you talk about the 25, 26 guys on the roster, you have the top of your lineup come through in such big moments that they haven't thus far into the postseason, what did it mean to see them come through for you guys like that?

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, I feel like it was just a matter of time. The more reps they get, it's hard to keep those guys down. Those guys are always working. They're always fighting.

I think that's the identity of our team. We're always going to keep fighting. We believe in each other, and it's just a matter of time. And those guys believe it. And it showed tonight.

Q. Yesterday, what was that like for you? How much did you get dialed up and your routine, how antsy do you get? Did you have to go through --

NICK MARTINEZ: Yeah, I get antsy. I was dialed up. I was ready to go. First I was hearing it would be a short delay. I had to get ready for that, get ready for possibly an 8:30 or 8:40 start. Then I was ready to go by 8:40-ish; I was ready to play catch outside. Then it got pushed to 9:00. I think that honestly helped me, because after you get going, you get the body going that much, the central nervous system is fired up, you're jacked up, then to sit for 30 minutes -- I think my legs would have been heavy if we started that game at like 9:00 or 10:00. I was ready to go. As soon as it was canceled, it was, all right, just gotta do the whole thing over again.

Q. It's been quite a few months since you pitched in weather this cold. Is that an adjustment after pitching indoors all year or pitching in hot weather, humid weather for months after months?

NICK MARTINEZ: I think your most important games are in the cold weather. We have obviously the climate controlled -- we play in Florida. It's nice pitching in the Trop.

But I think you just try to put that aside, right? These games are important. To look at ticky-tack stuff like that about the weather, honestly, you're just so jacked up to pitching in these moments you're not really thinking about the weather.

Q. It looks like you had a quick moment with Freddy in the dugout after his appearance. What was going through your mind and his mind --

NICK MARTINEZ: Was very grateful that he came in and shut it down for me. Again, a big inning. It was a huge inning. Very close game. To come in on his bullpen day and shut that down, I think it was huge for us.

And then you saw us score runs right after that. So I think that was a good momentum for us.