MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

October 27, 2021

Luke Jackson

Tucker Davidson

Minute Maid Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Tucker, when did you find out the news? And what have you been doing the last few weeks?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: I had a rehab assignment in Gwinnett, I think it was October 3rd. Then I continued to stay in Gwinnett at the alternate site or taxi squad, just staying ready in case an opportunity like this happens, where something happens and "Hey, we need a guy."

But it was probably about 12:45, 1:00 last night, Ben called me and was just, "Hey, we need you in Houston, so get here."

So that was pretty much it. It's kind of been a whirlwind of emotions the last like 12 hours and just getting in here this morning. I left the plane at 9:00 this morning and got here at noon. So it's been a quick few hours, that's for sure.

Q. Tucker, how big is this for you? Obviously, you've only pitched four times in the Big Leagues, and now you're in the World Series in your home state.

TUCKER DAVIDSON: It's a huge deal. It's an honor to be here. Pitching in Texas is going to be awesome. I haven't done that, I don't think, since college. That will be a fun, unique experience. The opportunity to make my postseason debut in the World Series, I don't think very many people have the opportunity to get to say they've done that before.

So really just getting to soak it all in and just go out there and help the team in any way I can.

Q. What have you been working on at the alternate site? How stretched out are you? What's your program been like for the last couple of weeks without games?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: I threw three innings in the rehab assignment down on October 3rd, and it was just, hey, we're going to continue to build up just in case we need a starter or something of that aspect. We've just been kind of each week of, hey, we're going to throw an outing, just kind of depending on what matchups look like. If something happens, we need a guy this day, we're going to have you throw this day.

We've been stretched out to 75, 80 pitches. We're capable of being able to start and do relief. So we're here for anything they need.

Q. Where were you watching the game last night, and what were the various steps of your route to get here today?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: So I was at a Courtyard by Marriott in Gwinnett, Georgia. There was a couple of us. It was Paul Howey, our strength and conditioning coach in Triple-A, and then Paul Davis our pitching coordinator. We were just kind of sitting there, and Charlie went down, and we kind of looked around like this is why we're here. This is the reason we have the taxi squad is for this reason right here.

So I stayed up, and I kind of had an idea that it might be me. I just had that gut feeling. And I found out, went to the clubhouse about five minutes from the hotel and packed my stuff and just kind of threw everything in the bag. Then proceeded to unload my car again, because all my stuff from my apartment is in my car. So I just kind of threw everything on the hotel floor and just kind of started packing things and then flew out this morning.

Q. Do you have a car service? Do you drive to the airport?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: I Ubered. I had to Uber today.

Q. Were you watching in the lobby with your teammates?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: Yes. We were having -- I think I had Cheesecake Factory last night, had a nice salad. It was a good day, and we got the big win last night, so that's huge.

Q. Tucker, how crazy -- you kind of look back on it, how crazy has this year been? It looks like you're going to stay in the rotation. You get hurt, and now you're here. This isn't how you've drawn it up.

TUCKER DAVIDSON: You told me June 15th when I got hurt that I'd be a consideration for the World Series, I would probably say you're lying. It's been a whirlwind of emotions. It's definitely taught me to grow as a person and just be able to understand that things don't happen as fast as you want them to.

There's plenty of times I was hurt where I was like I just want to pick up a ball and throw, but my body was not ready for that. So I had to really slow down, and I think that's going to continue to help over the course of my career of just kind of be able to take a step back and kind of realize what's actually going on and be able to take the proper steps and be able to continue to get better each day.

Q. Tucker, I know it's been a whirlwind, but has anyone reached out to you, given you any advice on kind of what to expect if you make this postseason debut, or any of your teammates sitting next to you or in the clubhouse?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: Not quite yet. I don't think it's really hit me yet. I think probably when we go out there for BP and start moving around, that's when the jitters and everything will start happening. I'm sure I'll ask a couple questions. I'll probably ask a lot of questions. Hey, got any advice? Just what do you kind of go to? Do you have anything that you think I should handle or do a certain way?

We've kind of always talked about, whenever the moment gets big, kind of finding something that you can take your focus off of everything. So it might be a Coca-Cola sign down there, the foul pole, whatever the case may be. Just taking a second to look at it and kind of reset your brain and calm down and be like let's execute this pitch.

Q. Luke, sounds like he needs some advice from you. You had a great outing last night against a really tough offense. What did you learn in that first outing?

LUKE JACKSON: I was just excited to get back out there. Coming from a rough series in the DS and then getting a chance to kind of, not redeem myself, but prove what I've done all year. It's one of those things that I kept telling them I want to start the game. Let me start Game 2. I need to get out there. I need to pitch again.

Just confidence the guys have been behind me the whole way, in the clubhouse, the coaching staff. The fact that they still trusted me is pretty cool.

Q. All of your teammates -- A.J. Minter, Charlie Morton, everyone that I talked to -- said, "We're going to need Luke. He's been big for us all year." What does that mean to you that they all say that after a couple rough outings in the LCS?

LUKE JACKSON: I think that's our team. I think people always kind of sit there like: Oh, how are the Braves here and how is this? We pull for each other. We're a team. Feel like we're surprising people, we're not. We're a good baseball team, we're here to win, and that's what we do.

Q. Luke, what's the best way to describe what A.J. and Tyler have been doing?

LUKE JACKSON: I guess lead by example is a pretty good one right there. Seeing just Tyler and A.J. pick up the ball every day. I think Matzek has only not pitched in one game this whole postseason, which is above and beyond. I think he's after some records probably. Just to go out there day in and day out whether he walks a guy or gives up a hit, it just doesn't faze him.

A.J. getting his dream to become a starter, every time we're in the postseason, I feel like it's coming to fruition. He's one of those guys who keeps saying he's going to be a starter. It's just funny seeing him just go out there. He says every time he comes out after three innings, he's just warming up. He's just ready to go. That's who he is. (Laughter).

Q. Luke, how satisfying has it been for you guys in the pen to kind of come full circle this year or 180 degrees, rather, after people had ridden you so much early on? Down the stretch, you've been such an integral part of this thing especially in the postseason?

LUKE JACKSON: I think every interview I've done, yes, we had some bad games. We blew some saves. We blew some holds. We've done above and beyond. And as we refer, you're the offensive line in the bullpen. Nobody really says much until you do really good or do one bad thing.

It's one of those things that I said we've had the stuff. I don't know if you've seen the stuff out of our bullpen with Matzek. Lefties throwing like upper 90s. You have someone like -- our long guys can be late-inning relievers. We've had the stuff from day one, it's just sometimes it takes a little while to bond and gel and just get a feel for pitching and pitching out of the pen. I knew it was going to come, and it's here.

Q. Tucker, any family or friends able to get here today? If so, what was involved in getting them here?

TUCKER DAVIDSON: Not today. We're working on Atlanta. We're seeing. Atlanta would like to sell out tickets in three minutes, so we're kind of battling that. Hopefully, my mom and aunt can come out. That's what we're kind of working on right now is just kind of -- can't even find a hotel at this point. That's what we're working for now.

Q. For either guy, it sounds like Ian Anderson's confidence is a big part of his game and the success he's had in the postseason without a ton of Big League games under his belt. Do either of you have a favorite example of that that's shareable?

LUKE JACKSON: I mean, he's like 65 years old in a 24-year-old person's body (laughter). It seems like he's seen everything when he hasn't seen anything. It's one of those things where he's just an old soul and kind of goes out there and does the work. He punches the clock kind of guy. 9:00 to 5:00, let's go. Let me go out there and pitch. Today's the World Series, tomorrow's opening day, and today's Wednesday at noon in Pittsburgh. It's kind of all the same to him, and that's what makes him pretty special.

TUCKER DAVIDSON: He's a gamer. He loves to go out there and compete. We kind of came up through the system together, and from Double-A, he's grown so much, just the confidence and just seeing what he's been able to do this year and even last year throughout the postseason. It's been awesome.

Just getting to follow in his footsteps and see how he goes about his business since he's been up here, how he's continued to get better each start. I think his hard work and his dedication has just paid or for him.

Q. What was it like to pitch in the World Series? And what will you tell Tucker?

LUKE JACKSON: I mean, you dream of this moment as a kid, right? The World Series. I don't know. We were talking about it in the outfield the other day during BP. We were all kind of looking at each other, it feels like any other day. There's so much media, and yeah it's different, it's the World Series, but I think if you get your head wrapped around you, it gets bigger. It's big anyway.

It's pretty cool. I tell him, I just had a son. He's 4 weeks old. I get to tell him, yeah, I pitched in the World Series one time. That's pretty cool. That's heartwarming. Tell Tucker, you know, it's any other day. You get to play a game for a living. It's not the end of the world. Just go out there and enjoy it, soak it all in, because there's people who play for 20 years and don't get a chance to play the in World Series.

Q. Luke, I'll ask you this just because I know, Tucker, you're just coming in. But as far as watching Charlie Morton last night pitch 16 pitches on a broken leg, and if you have spoken to him or what the feeling is like now, the next day, as you know you guys are still used to moving forward. Still Charlie's meant so much to this team.

LUKE JACKSON: Yeah, Charlie is irreplaceable. He's our ace. He's the veteran. He's probably like the most beautiful person on the inside and the outside I've ever met. Losing him in the clubhouse is probably even bigger than losing him on the mound, to be honest.

Hopefully, he'll get back here soon. I know he's in Green Bay right now. We all sent him a text. He's probably getting blown up right now. I haven't had a chance to talk to him on the phone yet, but I can't wait to see him and give him a hug.