MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 3, 2022

Justin Verlander

Citizens Bank Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Houston Astros - 3, Philadelphia Phillies - 2

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with questions for Justin Verlander.

Q. With every question that you get about getting that first World Series victory, second pitch of the game Schwarber hits it out. How do you kind of reset yourself and get yourself back on track to even get in this position?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, initially you're like, you know, that sucks. But as a starting pitcher, been there, done that. It just sucks because of the moment and obviously all the questions and weight. But you have to rely on the hundreds of starts and the thousands of pitches I've thrown before and just kind of say, okay, like, I've given up leadoff home runs before. Let me bear down. It's not going to be indicative of what's going to happen the rest of the game, by any means. Let's see what happens.

Q. You guys are one win away from the series. You've been there and won it. You've been there and not won it. What do you say to yourself? What do you say to your teammates about being this close but not quite there yet?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Zero complacency. We've been in this situation before. You can see how quickly momentum can change in this game. Just take it one pitch, one at-bat, one game at a time, and do what got us here, continue to do what got us here. I think that's really what makes this team so great is there's not one particular person that's going to try to go out there and try to be the hero on any given night. We just try to have quality at-bats, try to make quality pitches, try to go to our bullpen with a lead, which has been elite all season long.

Obviously Ryan Pressly what he did tonight was just incredible. We have a lot of recipes for success. As long as nobody tries to be the hero and just let the game play out and play our brand of baseball we have a good chance.

Q. After Murph went to the mound, did you consciously go to more sliders there with Hoskins and afterwards?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I think early on in the game it was pretty obvious that they were making an adjustment from last night. They were trying to get on time with the fastball. They were trying to get above the fastball. And that was an adjustment that me and Maldonado made, I think as the game went on. And it was kind of a tricky thing because my first start my slider and curveball was what I got hurt on most of the start.

But I also did a lot of work in between starts to try to figure those pitches out and try to figure out my mechanics and figure out why those pitches weren't having the reaction that I would like from the hitter. So once we started leaning on them a little bit, it was almost like testing the water, sticking your foot in the pool and seeing how cold it is. Once we started using them a little bit and started seeing the reactions that we typically get most of the season from the hitters, then I think we started leaning on it a little bit more.

Q. But the exception is you threw 17 fastballs to Harper.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Um-hum.

Q. Why? Just keep fastball after fastball?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I mean, no reason there.

Q. After the Harper double in the 5th you were getting up toward 90 pitches. Castellanos grinds through that at-bat. I think he fouled off seven two-strike pitches. What was working for that at-bat and how are you feeling physically at that point?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Physically I was fine. Just really wanted an out. (Laughing.)

Nick, who had, to me, looking back at Game 1, probably had the at-bat of that game. Him going down and getting that slider and skipping it into left field was kind of the precipice of that big inning.

Here, I find myself on the verge of a ball game again with him up and just wanted to -- just really wanted to get him out. (Laughing.) So Maldonado, after Nick fouled off a bunch of good pitches and, I mean, what a great at-bat, Maldonado and I kind of came out and just talked through really what the game plan was and what we wanted to do and thankfully got him.

Q. Could you talk about how important Jeremy Peña's been to this team to fill in those shoes. He seems like he's a leader and he's a rookie. Could you talk about that.

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, he is. He leads by example. He leads by his play on the field. It's been incredible. Obviously coming in as a rookie at the major league level isn't ever easy no matter what, but to step in and try to replace a Carlos Correa on a roster that he was a mainstay in and a leader of our team, to come in and be able to fill -- I don't want to say fill the shoes. It's different. He's not expecting to fill those shoes. He's his own player.

To come in and do what he's done, to showcase his game, and step up in the biggest of moments, it's just been, it's been a lot of fun to watch. I think it leads by example. You got José Altuve and Alex Bregman and these guys who lead by example every single day. They come in and, you know, rain or shine, good streak, bad streak, doesn't matter, they're going to do whatever they can to go through their routine, get ready to win a ball game, and do everything they can to help us win that given day. It's contagious.

I think it's a great example for guys like Peña who come in and you can't help but follow those guys' lead. And it helps set you up for success. And then he took that and he, to his credit, he watches, he learns, he takes what these guys give him in advice and what he sees and learns and takes it and runs with it with his talent. You get what you get.

Q. You touched on this a little bit, but that 5th inning are you wondering if you're going to get to stay in there to get the win if they're going let you stay in there?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I was considering after Bryce, after the Bryce double, whether Dusty was going to leave me in there or not. I wasn't sure. I was thankful for the opportunity, and thankful to come through.

Q. Dusty talked to us about maybe a little different perspective of living in the moment and kind of enjoying what's going on around you. Given that, how happy are you for guys like Chas making an unbelievable play and Trey Mancini, who has wanted so badly to help this team do great stuff?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: Yeah, Chas is a great ball player. He gives it his all every single play, every single at-bat. Sometimes goes over the top with his emotions because he cares so much. So to see him be able to come up with that play and to see him after the game just sitting out there on the field and kind of kneeling, I mean, from Philadelphia area and just like him taking in the moment is just so incredible.

And then Trey, I can't say enough about what he's done. Obviously, he would like to contribute more offensively. And after the game, we always give credit to the people that helped us helped contribute to each and every win, and Trey tonight was a big contributor to that. He said it himself. He said he's not necessarily always known for his defensive play, but to come through with that play tonight. I mean, Schwarber hit that -- it seems like every ball he hits in play is 110 miles an hour plus. So for Trey to make that play. Trey and Chas both, just huge contributors to tonight.

Bullpen, Ryan Pressly, I mean, it just is so symbol like for me that my first win in the World Series is just such a great team win. There's so many people that go into all these wins in my career, countless individuals that I've played with that have made great plays in certain situations that get overlooked. To have it happen on the biggest stage tonight was pretty special.

Q. To follow up on that Castellanos at-bat. I think you went, the first six pitches were some combination of sliders and fastballs, and then you went change, curve, curve, and got him with the slider. How does the flow of adjustments go in a battle like that that lasts so long?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I think you're really just trying to, as a pitcher trying to read swings, see reactions, see what he's seeing well, see what he's not seeing well, maybe where I can expand, where I can expose a weakness, whether he's making an adjustment mid at-bat or -- a lot. A lot's going on.

Q. For all the success you've had in your career and for all that we've talked about this over the weeks, what does it mean to you now that years from now you'll be able to look on the back of your baseball card or I guess baseball reference and a W is going to be represented for you?

JUSTIN VERLANDER: I can say I got one. My boys, my teammates, my family, they gave me the rookie treatment after the game. They put me in the cart and rolled me in the shower and just dowsed me with all sorts of stuff, and it was one of the best feelings in my career. Just truly love these guys. I love our team.

Like I said, this is a part of the reason why I say it's so symbolic that so many people were a part of this win. And they rallied around me and they were almost just as happy that I got the win as I was. Just an incredible feeling. It feels great.