NL WILDCARD GAME: DODGERS VS CARDINALS

October 6, 2021

Mookie Betts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame Press Conference

Q. How are you and how is the team feeling heading into this Wild Card game?

MOOKIE BETTS: I'm great. I think everybody is excited and ready to go. These games are -- you get nervous and butterflies and all those type of things, but I think that's what makes it fun. I think everybody kind of feels that.

I don't want to speak for everybody, but it just kind of seems like the butterflies and whatnot are going, and I think that just means that we love it.

Q. How do you approach a single elimination game?

MOOKIE BETTS: Just the same way. You can't do -- you can't all of a sudden just start throwing 98 or 100 or whatever, and I'm not going to -- obviously I'm not going to just start hitting 500-foot homers.

It's the same thing. It's just really win or go home.

Q. I wanted to ask you about Trea Turner, just how did his acquisition impact the team, and in your opinion, how does he compare to the other most valuable players in the National League?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, obviously he's huge, him and Scherzer are huge, coming over here, helping us out, especially with some of the injuries that have kind of gone on. He's just an all-around player. Plays defense, runs the bases, hits, does everything you need him to do.

Now he's hitting third and hitting .330. I mean, he just does everything. You can't really ask for a more complete player than what he is, so he's been huge for us.

Q. Do you like going back to lead-off?

MOOKIE BETTS: It didn't really matter. It just seems like it's flowed a little better, especially with all the damage he's doing. All I have to do is just get on base for him and Seags, really.

Q. Every season obviously is different, but this season how do you feel like you've been able to grow, and what have you seen in yourself out of the season as well as the team this season?

MOOKIE BETTS: Obviously it was kind of rough. Even once I was somewhat healthy, I still didn't play that well. I'm not blaming anything on any injuries or anything. It's just purely me just not playing well.

But you know, we've got the guys, they all just picked up my slack, and that's why we are where we are. Obviously the Giants played really well. Got to tip your cap. They won 107 games.

We've played really well and kind of picked up for each other, and that's just the name of the game.

Q. What do you think got you guys going as an offense down the stretch?

MOOKIE BETTS: I think getting A.J. back was big, and really just kind of turning the lineup over. Seags and Trea doing so much at the top, it was just kind of important for me and the guys at the bottom just to find a way to get on base. I think that's kind of what made the turn.

Everybody else has been really consistent and hitting all year, so really it's just the bottom. We struggled a little there, and obviously with my struggles, just made it kind of rough.

Q. You had some great wins before the end of the season. Pressure was obviously a big factor. How impressed are you with the team working under that pressure?

MOOKIE BETTS: We've done an amazing job under pressure, not really letting the moment get too big. Just really enjoying it and embracing those pressures. Today is just another game where we have to just embrace it. It'll be fun.

Q. Following up on that, kind of the elephant in the room, you guys win 106 games, but if you don't win 107, it's over. How do you put that pressure aside so it can be another game?

MOOKIE BETTS: You know, I think all the 106 games are out the window now. It didn't help us win the division, so it's really irrelevant. We're in the spot we are now. We've got to play the hand we're dealt. It's just one game. Same thing we've been doing all season.

Obviously use what you learned in 106 wins. You just try and apply it to now.

Other than that, those 106 are irrelevant.

Q. Obviously with Max Muncy out a decision had to be made with the lineup at first, and Matt Beaty gets the call. What are your thoughts on him and his at-bats?

MOOKIE BETTS: You know you're going to get some good at-bats. Especially down the stretch he was really, really good, and so he's played throughout the postseason, so it's not really anything new for him.

If you know him personally, you just know he just kind of chills and relaxes. He doesn't get too excited for much. He'll be fine.

I think, like I said, it's going to take all nine. It's going to take all nine, or however many guys -- 26 guys to win. It's not just on one guy.

Q. On the subject of Muncy, can you take us through the emotional journey of realizing he wasn't going to be available for this but finding out that he could and will be available if you guys advance down the stretch?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, I don't know that I knew he could be available down the stretch, but I think obviously it sucks. He's such a big part of our lineup, such a big part of our clubhouse. We'll have him in the clubhouse, but the lineup presence is huge.

We have to just kind of turn the page. I don't want to write him off or anything. Obviously I love Muncy and everything, but we can't dwell on it. We have to continue to play the games that are coming, and somebody has to step up and pick up where Muncy left off.

We've got a great group of guys to do that.

Q. What do you think of this playoff format? You guys are in collective bargaining; there's negotiating going on; you could expand this first round. What would you like to see in the future done with this or are you happy the way it is?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, that's a whole ordeal in itself. I can't change it right now. We'll just see kind of what goes forward. There's going to be a lot of great seasons that guys, teams don't make playoffs or are put in this spot. It doesn't really matter. You have to win the division. You have to do whatever you have to do to make playoffs.

We'll see how the format changes or if it does. But if it does, cool. If it doesn't, that's fine, too.

Q. What do you remember about facing Wainwright?

MOOKIE BETTS: Obviously he threw a lot of strikes, kept us off balance. He pitched a great game when we were there. He hasn't been around this long for no reason. You know you're going to get his best.

It's a one-game playoff for him, too. Obviously we're going to play our best, but he's going to come out ready to go. He's got fire just like we do. It's going to be a tough one, and it'll be fun.