MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

October 27, 2022

Justin Verlander

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Justin.

Q. You've pitched for a long time and been in a lot of different situations. Knowing that you had this much time off between starts how have you kind of kept yourself in rhythm, kept the feel for your pitches knowing that your next start was Game 1 of the World Series?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, good question. I threw a couple bullpens. It's kind of one of that weird timeframe where you're not going to try and rush in an extra simulated game or anything. So just threw a couple bullpens.

This year I've had a couple times through the rotation where I had eight days off. So just kind of hope that all the repetitions throughout my entire life show up.

Q. How are you feeling entering Game 1 and after over 3,000 career innings why do you think you've been able to stay so strong for so long here as a pitcher?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I'm excited, nervous, anxious. I'm looking forward to getting my routine tomorrow. Boy, I mean, how long you got for the second part of that question? (Laughing.)

I don't know. I have always just made recovery a priority. I'm going to try to give like the easiest answer I can. I really focus on sleep. I have my entire career because I've always felt like that's the best natural way for your body to recover. Every extra REM cycle you get you get more HGH and testosterone in your body and that's something that I don't, I take a lot of pride in because I don't cheat. So I've never -- you know, I don't know. You know what I'm saying. So the best natural way to do it is sleep. So I've always made that a priority, as my family will tell you.

Other than that, I think my routine has changed over time a lot. When I was younger -- I mean, look, working out, the whole mindset of how you make yourself -- at your peak has changed from the time I first came into the league until now. Boy, a lot's changed in my workout routines. I think now I'm focused less now on strength-building. I feel like I have a good platform, a good base. I focus more on mobility and trying to keep my body in its natural state as possible. I mean, that's the laymen's terms, I guess. I'm trying not to go too far into the woods here. But a lot of hard work, a lot, a lot of time, a lot of effort. You just don't get here by accident.

Q. Dusty's probably one of the best storytellers ever been around the game. There's probably a bunch, but I wondered if you could tell me your favorite story that Dusty's ever told you?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: (Laughing.) I don't know. There's a few of 'em. I don't know if -- I don't know. There's just a respect between Dusty and myself. My favorite stories are probably pretty personal, so I'll keep them between him and I.

Q. With all you've accomplished in the game, how much does finally getting that first World Series win sort of kind of motivate you with all the other stuff that motivates you?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: That would be wonderful. I think Dusty and I both would like to check off my first World Series win, his first World Series championship. I think that would be a wonderful thing for us to have on our career list. I think, it's not my goal though. My goal's not to go out there and win a baseball game. There's been games in the World Series that I don't deserve a win. There's been games that I thought I pitched well enough where we could get a win and it just didn't work out. At this point in the season personal goals like that just don't matter. Try to win the game however you can. I was one of the happiest people in the world Game 1 against Seattle when we won that game. I pitched like crap, but we won. It doesn't matter anymore. It would be nice, though.

Q. There's a possibility that tomorrow could be your last start at Minute Maid Park as an Astro. I guess, have you allowed that to enter your mind and kind of what do you think about your future?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I don't know, man, I'm just kind of along for the ride right now. It's been a wonderful year for me, my family at home and in the sport. I'm just trying to be present and part of it. I'm not really trying to focus too much on what's ahead.

Q. I'm curious if you kind of view this iteration of the Astros over the last six years and everything you guys have accomplished, if you use the word dynasty maybe to describe it?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, how could you not? I sure would like to cement another championship to really drive that point home, and here we are with a chance to do that. But, yeah, we've obviously been one of the best franchises in the history of the game since this run we've been on.

Q. After your strong comeback from Tommy John, I'm curious looking back on the last winter, being a free agent for the first time in your long career, what that process was like to be courted for at least a couple of weeks there by other teams, having not done that before in your career.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: It was interesting. I really did enjoy kind of just talking with some teams and just kind of like hearing their philosophies and getting to talk about my philosophies with pitching and just talk baseball.

I didn't get the traditional like come into the city and get, you know, all the pizzaz because it was a short timeframe. I gave them until the end of, until I had to decide for the opt out thing, the draft pick competition, the qualifying offer. So there wasn't a lot of time, which made things pretty stressful, to be honest. But also I enjoyed the process. I'm intrigued moving forward. Like I said, I don't know what's going to happen, but I think it's just a new experience, which that's how you grow and learn and have fun.

DAVE DOMBROWSKI: When did you start your career again?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Dave, how are you?

DAVE DOMBROWSKI: Best to the family.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Thank you. You as well.

Q. That was actually perfect timing.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: He's still wearing the same cologne, by the way. I smell it. It's a very distinct one. I remember that smell.

Q. I was going to ask you, what has Dave Dombrowski meant to your baseball career? Can you put that into words?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: He means a lot, a lot. Going back to him, Jim Leyland, a couple people that were integral in me getting my start in professional baseball. I was a high risk-high reward draft pick coming out of Old Dominion. And they took a flier on me with the second pick. And I really appreciate them allowing me to be myself, one. And to bring me up so quickly.

I got my career started very young. I felt like it was a great marriage. We rewarded them with a Rookie of the Year and a trip to the World Series in my rookie year. Obviously I was not the sole reason for that, but had a big part in it. It was a hell of a lot of fun.

So, yeah, I'm very fond of Dave, and I would be remiss if I don't mention Jim again.

Q. You've pitched well in some World Series games, yet at this point then in that many starts to not have a win, does that feel like something lacking?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I would like to get a win, yeah. I mean, I'm not going to -- like I said, that's not my goal, so I don't want to say that that feels like it's lacking because innately that would make it a particular goal of mine.

My goal is to go out and give us the best chance to win. If that ends up resulting in a win, great. I've been a part of games that I pitched and started that we won in the World Series, which is more important than getting the win.

Q. And how much better are you at reading batters and swings than when you first started? Like, the instances this year, the two, three times a game where you throw changeups and having the feel for what you want to throw.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, light years. That's just, I feel like one of those things that just comes with time, logging innings, instincts. You have to be in those situations and recognize certain things. I think, I've talked to some guys before about what I see and I've come to realize just not everybody sees what I do. I don't know exactly why. I would assume it's just paying attention and pitching for a long time.

Q. MLB is doing a project with Esquire magazine. This is a little off the wall question, and I want to say that your teammates actually suggested that I ask you this question.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Oh, no.

Q. It's just about fashion and how it relates to sports. And I know you guys are so photographed these days. In terms of like fashion, to you, how is it relevant to sports?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I don't know. It's just a way to express yourself. We're always in front of the camera. I think it's just a way for us to show our personality. I would call myself very classic in my style. I don't go too far out of the box. But I like to look good. I like to keep up with trends.

It's just a fun way for some people to have an insight into who you are, I think, a little bit. It's kind of hard here in Houston, though, fashion. It's very hot. Not too many layers. I like layers sometimes.

Q. You faced these guys earlier in the month, but there's only a few hitters from the lineup that day that are probably going to be playing tomorrow. What sort of challenge does the Phillies' lineup present?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: They're a great lineup. Obviously they wouldn't be here if they weren't. But I think they have a lot of power. They cover a lot of different pitch types. They make you -- you can't just have one game plan and work it through the entire lineup. They have a bunch of professional hitters. So I think they're one of the best lineups in baseball this season.

Q. I don't want to get you in trouble for disrespecting the Phillies or anything like that. But that said, you guys have been undefeated thus far in the postseason. No team has gone through a postseason undefeated since 1976. And since the divisional rounds started, no team's gone into one undefeated either. Is that something that any of you guys have thought about going into this World Series?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I don't think so. No. I can -- nobody that I've talked to is like, Hey, we're going to go undefeated. I don't think anybody cares. As long as it ends in a Chip, it ends in Chip.