MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 2, 2022

Justin Verlander

Citizens Bank Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 4 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead and get started with questions for Justin.

Q. The fact that this is your last start of the season, does that alter the way you're going to go out there, maybe empty the tank a little more, or just do things you normally wouldn't do because you don't have to worry about bouncing back or anything?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, I don't think so. I don't know. I feel like at the end of most of my games I've emptied the tank one way or the other, so I don't see that having, playing a role, really.

Q. When we talked to you last after Game 1 you said you needed to go back and look and kind of see what kind of went awry after the three innings. When you went back and looked, what did you discover? Was it mechanical, was it execution, and what can you hope to improve on going into Game 5?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I think a lot of times the execution follows mechanics. So, yeah, I did find some mechanical things that I needed to clean up. I've been working really hard since then. But there's really no way to know how it's going until you get in the game and see the hitters' reactions.

So you work as hard as you possibly can, you take that into practice, you see how it feels, are you're getting the desired results, and then you take it into the game and hope that's it.

Q. You've got a lot of experience doing this. How quickly in a seven-game series does it seem like things can change back and forth and you're kind of on the inside and how does all the experience you have in that clubhouse help you kind of deal with the change back that happened last night?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, I think not just my experience, but this team's experience helps a lot in these situations. Obviously there was a big momentum shift last night. I think one of the things as a team is you don't shy away from that. We understand what happened and obviously that shortens the series, it shortens it in their favor.

But at the same time, we have been a part of a lot of postseasons where we come back and win a couple and the momentum changes right back. So I think the lesson is like just turn the page and get ready for the next day. That's all you can do. There is no, you don't want to put your head down and feel sorry about what happened the night before. That's yesterday's news. Come and do everything can you to win a ball game today.

Q. You were very open after the DS about some of the issues maybe with your lower half. Do you believe that that contributed at all with what happened in Game 1?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I don't know. I try to be open and honest with you guys. At the same time, I try not to make excuses. So it's kind of this weird line to walk.

I don't think so. Not at this point. I've had a few good starts since I came back from the calf. I've had a few bad. It hasn't quite been as good as it was before, but the only thing I can do is try to prepare the best I can. Whether it's contributed or not, when you've had a couple bad starts and things aren't as sharp as they were, you look at what could be the underlying reason for that. And I'm always somebody who tries to look upstream, or downstream, I guess. I don't know how you want to analyze it.

But I kind of go back to the beginning of my mechanics and I'm very lower-half driven. So, to me, that did play a part in it. But at the same time, I'm working hard to sync everything up and it should be healthy by now completely, so hopefully some of the adjustments that I've made will take hold very quickly and we can be off to the races.

Q. Does game count, whatever the series is, does that have any impact on your strategy, your approach, or anything or that can't have anything to do with how you pitch tomorrow night?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I think there's definitely a different style of pitching in the playoffs where you just go out there and get as many outs as you can and not worry about going deep in the ball games. If that happens, great. If not, you just leave it all out there on the field.

So the strategy is slightly different, whereas in the regular season if something's a little off or you have a high pitch count inning or something, you can try to massage the pitch count a little bit and make some pitches here or there that you think you can get some quick outs.

But in the playoffs, you can't risk giving up a run or two with those types of pitches. So there is a bit of a different strategy, but I don't think it changes based upon where we're at inside the series.

Q. What's your evaluation of Harper's maturation process and how he's playing this postseason?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, it's been an incredible run he's been on. He's came up and had all the weight of the world on his shoulders. I mean, he was on Sports Illustrated in high school and it's really hard to live up to those expectations, and he has done that. I mean, I think the player he's become from -- you can still see his core. He's super passionate. I remember him, when he was super young, just almost like too aggressive in most of the phases of his game, but that's just who he is to his core. He would to do some things where it's like, hey, man, just tone it down a little bit. And I don't know whether that just comes with age or what, but you can still see all of those strengths of his. I think they're strengths. I think I would rather have it that way and learn how to hone it than the other way and try to teach guys to be aggressive.

But you take that along with the maturation of a player and just being up here for long enough to get in tune with the game and what makes you successful and you get the complete player that he's become. He's so dynamic and it's been really cool to watch him grow and turn into the MVP, perennial MVP-type player that he is.

Q. Tomorrow night will be the last time you pitch with shift allowances as we know them, and I'm curious that as a pitcher whose career has spanned a number of years will you miss shifts or do you welcome their elimination?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Hmm. (Laughing.)

Well, I think I'm one of the highest percentage of fly ball pitchers in the league, so I don't know if I'll, per se, miss it so much. I see the effort behind the banning of the shift, which I am for that effort, which is incentivizing more balls in play, getting a little more action, having guys have the ability to shorten up with two strikes and put the ball in play and be rewarded with a hit for that.

I think the game needs to move past the three true outcomes, so if that is the result of banning the shift, then I am pro. But I mean, it's to be determined whether that happens or not. We'll see.

Q. You have days where you feel sharp in the first inning, first games where you struggle. Was it unusual last game to all of a sudden just struggle for strikes in the 4th inning?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, I've been around long enough, man, I've had plenty of games. I've had everything happen. Not everything. You always see something new in this game. That's the old adage, anyway. But I'm not like dwelling on what went wrong-type thing.

Q. No, but did you, looking back, figure out what, between the 3rd and 4th, what had changed for you?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I don't think anything really changed. I think that they probably second time through the lineup they made some adjustments and did a better job of spoiling some decent pitches. And then when I did make mistakes they hit 'em. And then it just kind of compounded a little bit. You know, Castellanos does a great job kind of going and digging that ball to left field. The ball that clanks out of my glove should have been an inning-ending double play. Not should have been, it's not an easy play. But it's just kind of it goes in and out.

I look back at those situation, like if either one of those things changes maybe the whole dynamic changes. I don't know. But that's baseball. And that's, I'm not saying anything -- that's a tribute to Nick for going -- that was a good slider down and off the plate and he was able to give himself up and find a way to put it in play and found a hit. And that's baseball.

So I'm not going to sit here and dwell too much and be like, Oh, I just got hit all over the yard. I think you try to keep a positive mindset and say, Well, had a couple things gone my way maybe things would have been very different. So hopefully things will go my way next time.

Q. Have you given any thought that this could be your last start with the Astros? Or is that just kind of premature?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: It's premature. I try not to, really. Really and truly it's been a hell of a ride no matter what happens whether I stay or don't. I've really enjoyed my time with this group of guys and the city and getting to know the city. And it's really been a blessing and a wonderful time in my career.

So I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to be present. I mean, we talked a lot about how this year I've just tried to be more in the moment and be present and enjoy the ride and yeah, that will happen whenever it happens. We'll see.