AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ASTROS VS RED SOX

October 21, 2021

Nathan Eovaldi

Minute Maid Park

Boston Red Sox

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Nate, how much do you draw from the Wild Card start in terms of having the experience of having pitched in the elimination game as you prepare for this one?

NATHAN EOVALDI: We know where we're at situation, standings, everything like that. We know what's on the line. I've faced them twice now within the week, so I have a good game plan going in, and it's just going to come down to try not to do too much out there, make sure I'm executing my pitches, and attacking the strike zone.

Q. Usually it becomes more and more difficult as the series progresses to see a team over and over. How much do you benefit from having kind of a variety of options that you can go to? Are you someone who feels like you need to constantly -- that you will need to reshape your game plan in order to avoid falling into patterns they might be familiar with?

NATHAN EOVALDI: I think that's kind of the nice thing about having five pitches that I throw a lot. I have different ways of trying to get them out. The last time I faced them, I basically went through the lineup twice before I was taken out. So the other night when I came into relief, it's a different atmosphere when you come out of the bullpen. You're in kind of like that attack mode right away as opposed to starting. I kind of try to set them up in different ways.

Coming in this time, like I said, I have different pitches that I can rely on to try to get myself out of situations when I need to and try to get them out. I think it's going to help me out in this particular situation, and I'll be ready to go.

Q. In the appearance out of the bullpen, as you look back on that, setting aside the question of whether or not the one-two pitch was a strike, is there anything that you thought from that outing where you were, like, oh, that wasn't quite where it needs to be?

NATHAN EOVALDI: I feel like my off speed pitches, I felt like I was doing a little too much with them so they weren't getting the action that I really wanted. One of the things that I've been struggling with this year is just when you get caught up in the moment, I still have to be able to read the batters and read their swings and adjust to that. And I feel like that's one of the things I didn't do very well the other night when I came out of the bullpen, and it might have been due to being excited, being able to come into that game in that situation.

And one of the things I got to do better on is just simplifying the game, making sure I execute every pitch where I need it to be, and that's what I plan on doing tomorrow.

Q. With the bullpen appearance physically, do you feel there are any limitations on where you are at for this start? Obviously, we've seen some of the Dodgers pitchers feel not great coming out of their bullpen appearances.

NATHAN EOVALDI: I think having the two days in between definitely helps. I took yesterday off. I didn't really throw. Made sure I was nice and recovered. Just got done playing catch today. I feel great. I don't think there's any limitations. My arm feels good, and mentally I'm going to be ready and prepared for this game tomorrow.

Q. Nate, you pitched against this lineup a lot of times. What are the keys against pitching against Houston?

NATHAN EOVALDI: Staying aggressive, not falling behind in counts. I feel like whenever you fall behind in a count with these guys, they're able to do damage, and they do a really good job of passing the at-bats on to each other. There's not an easy out in the lineup, for sure. It's going to be making sure I stay ahead in the count and stay on the attack and try to keep the crowd out of the game.

Q. How confident are you that the Red Sox can bounce back?

NATHAN EOVALDI: I'm extremely confident. Everybody is a little frustrated with the way we've been playing lately. We know it's not the way we are capable of playing, and we know where we're at in the standings, and everything that's on the line for this game. It's do or die. You either win or you go home. Nobody is ready to go home right now, and we're going to be ready to go tomorrow.

Q. How much do you love pitching in these type of clutch games?

NATHAN EOVALDI: No, I do. I love it. I feel like this is what everybody wants to do. Every guy in the locker room wants to be able to start tomorrow and be able to be in this situation, and I'm thankful that I get to be here and be able to do it. There's just something about when everything is on the line, and I think it brings the best out of us.