MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

October 27, 2022

Aaron Nola

Minute Maid Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Aaron Nola.

Q. I hear that you have a former roommate that plays for this team. How do you feel playing head-to-head against your old friend, college buddy, and how do you feel about having the responsibility of opening probably one of the most important games in Phillies recent baseball history?

AARON NOLA: Yeah, it's pretty cool to be able to face off against Bregman at this point of the season and in the World Series. He's had such a good career over here with the Astros. He's such a good ball player. I know him really well and he's pretty much the same guy as when I first met him. So super happy for him and definitely pretty cool to be able to compete against him.

But for us it's awesome as well to be in this position. It's great for our team, the organization, the fan base to be in this position right now and have a chance at a world title. So it's pretty special.

Q. Is there any advantage or disadvantage that you did face this team less than a month ago? You got to pitch in this ballpark. I know the circumstances were very different. Does that help or hurt in this situation?

AARON NOLA: I guess I'll find out. But it's nice to be able to pitch on this mound for the first time the last time we were here, just to kind of get a feel for it and know how it holds up. So I think that's an advantage to that part.

Obviously, like you said, it's a different stage of the last time we played here. It's a good team that we're playing against, and we are too, so I think we'll see tomorrow and we'll see this series.

Q. Dave Dombrowski was telling us that he told a couple guys on the bus ride or something like that that this is going to be completely different than anything you guys have experienced. The world is watching and stuff like that. Do you think your personality and demeanor is perfect for this situation, not getting too up or you stay even-keeled?

AARON NOLA: For myself, yeah, it's a big stage and it's a World Series, but it's just another game when we step out on that field. That's all I try to focus on is to make pitches when I need to and focus every single pitch. I can't control the results that happen. The only thing I can control is my body on the mound and my emotions and where that pitch is going. So that's kind of how I keep my focus in line and my emotions in check.

Q. I wanted to ask you, when Rob took over, did he stabilize things? Things were not at a good spot at that point. That's why you changed managers. Did he stabilize things? What did he do to get things on an even keel? Because obviously they weren't when he took over.

AARON NOLA: I mean, if anybody knows Rob he's the most even-keeled guy out there. He never gets too up. He never gets too down. I feel like that's our team. When we had our struggles and we were losing a little bit everybody always believed that we were going to turn it around and we did, and we're at this point now. When we were winning a good bit we never got too high. And it's the reality of the game, anything can happen, and I think everybody in that clubhouse knew that and we just had to keep pushing.

To me, I think we saw that the first game of the Wild Card. We never gave up in that 9th inning, that whole game, and it pushed us to here.

Q. Is he the perfect person for that situation you were in? Do you feel he was like the perfect thing for this team?

AARON NOLA: Yeah, I believe so. I believe so. He's super even-keeled and I think it showed. It shows with our team.

Q. Have you spoken to Austin yet? He said after the LCS clincher he was going to take some time before he reached out.

AARON NOLA: Yeah, I talked to him the other day. Yeah. He congratulated me and said he was sorry we didn't talk after the game. He was pretty upset, which I get. I understand. I think everybody would be. I'm super happy for him. He had a great season and a great postseason, and obviously tough for them. I'm just glad he stayed healthy through the whole season.

Q. Is he going to be here? Can you look back now at that series and kind of step back and say, wow, what that kind of meant to you guys?

AARON NOLA: Yeah, I don't think he's going to be here. He said he might be watching on TV in Montana. But it was definitely pretty cool playing against him in that series. We said soak it up because it might not ever happen again. I think at that point of the season, the Championship Series, not too many brothers get to play against each other that late in the season, so we definitely soaked it in.

Q. Could you give us a little insight on how Rob told you that you were going to start Game 1? Is there any kind of story to it or is it normal Rob Thomson?

AARON NOLA: Normal Rob Thomson. He actually just told me right when we stormed the field after Ranger got that last out (laughing.) We hugged each other and he told me then. So not too long of a story.

Q. Picking up on that question, did you get a chance to see any of the videos of your parents in the stands watching you and your brother play? They seemed really conflicted and torn. Have you talked to them about it and what it was like for them?

AARON NOLA: I haven't seen any videos of 'em. I haven't really checked the internet, to be honest with you. But, yeah, I know it was hard for 'em, right, to see the Phillies advance and then Austin get that last out. I know it was emotional for them.

Q. What similarities do you see in yourself and Verlander and what differences as a pitcher?

AARON NOLA: That's a really good pitcher right there. He's been doing it for a very long time. He's steady. He's always consistent. I've probably only seen him in person four or five times pitch, being on the other side. But I know he's such a competitor. He's been doing it for so long and it's really impressive. He's having a heck of a year this year. It's cool to watch him.

Q. Have you ever talked to him much over the years?

AARON NOLA: I've never talked to him.

Q. This was another year where you carried a heavy workload, but this is going to be nine days between starts. Just what can that do for you at this time of year?

AARON NOLA: Yeah, it he's feels like I haven't been on the mound in quite some time, but I think a little rest is good. I think at this stage right now, obviously not feeling like the regular season. I think when I get on the mound it feels like I was just on the mound. I think everything starts to zone back in. As long as my body is healthy, which it is, and my arm feels good, I think I'll be, I'll feel good.

Q. Do you have to game plan any differently because they saw you three weeks ago?

AARON NOLA: I'll see. I'll watch some video tonight. See what I need to do. I don't know if it's going to be the same exact lineup that I faced a couple weeks ago. But I just, at the end of the day I just need to execute my pitches and try to get that leadoff guy out.

Q. Your high-level views on the Astros lineup?

AARON NOLA: I'm sorry, my what?

Q. In general their batters, their overall lineup. What are your kind of high-level views? What are their strengths?

AARON NOLA: It's a good lineup. They do a lot of things well. They hit for average, hit for power. They're scrappy. But I think for me I just have to make pitches to them and keep the ball on the ground.