NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS DODGERS

October 11, 2022

Yu Darvish

Dodger Stadium

San Diego Padres

Pregame 1 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for questions for Yu.

Q. You've had great success against these Dodgers your last couple of outings. I know execution is important as having the right game plan. Against this particular lineup, is there one that's more crucial than another in terms of having success against them?

YU DARVISH: Yeah, you obviously go in with a plan when you face these guys. I think I've been a little bit lucky too facing these guys, so it's the same thing. Just have a good plan and go into the game.

Q. What specifically has changed, and I'm sure there are a number of things, but what specifically has changed in the last two weeks to make you as a team think you're better equipped to compete and potentially win this series?

YU DARVISH: I haven't changed as far as what I'm doing, but I think the team as a whole as we go through these games I think are gaining more confidence. Obviously, winning through that Wild Card game, I think that was a confidence booster for us.

Q. How do you look back at that World Series start here in 2017, and how much of a driver was it for you in the ensuing years?

YU DARVISH: Obviously, the stadium hasn't changed. Not much has changed here. But as for myself, I feel like I'm a different pitcher from back then. So, yeah, I feel like a different pitcher.

Q. It's easy to say you're not facing Kershaw when you're no longer having to hit against Kershaw. We haven't asked you enough, how much have you enjoyed not hitting this year?

YU DARVISH: For me, obviously, when you stand in the batter's box, there's a learning experience there. So it's not all bad, but, you know, it takes a lot from you. It's a tiring process.

Yeah, so that's that. You know, just being able to go against Kershaw on this mound, it's very honoring. I said the same thing when I faced Scherzer, these type of pitchers that you go against on the mound. It's very honoring.

Q. Yu, what was it like experiencing Joe Musgrove's start the other night, and what do you think it would have been like for you? How would you have reacted if you were up there rolling through six innings or five innings and the umpires are up there checking your ears?

YU DARVISH: I don't think much about it. I'm sure that they had their reasons of doing what they did to Joe. You know, I really don't think too much about it.

For us it's been a great series. We got the win, and it's been a confidence booster for us.

Q. So no thoughts on if someone had been out there rubbing your ears, how do you think you would have reacted to that?

YU DARVISH: Anybody can come up and touch my ears, touch my nose, touch my wherever. (Laughing.)

Q. You said since that 2017 World Series start, you think you've become a different pitcher. In what ways are you a different pitcher today than you were then, and what have been the biggest changes?

YU DARVISH: Yeah, I think it comes with age, you know, going through experience for sure. You go through that experience in 2017, and there's a lot to learn from that. That helps you grow to become a better pitcher. Not just me. I've had some help from other staff, coaches around me, but it's a learning experience that you go through and you grow from that.

Thank you.