AL DIVISION SERIES: RANGERS VS ORIOLES

October 6, 2023

Kyle Bradish

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. When you think back to your first start, Texas, the line drive, the injured list, could you ever have imagined sitting here talking about Game 1 Division Series and literally against the same team?

KYLE BRADISH: No, honestly, no. It's kind of just a dream to be able to start Game 1 in the playoffs, let alone to be in the playoffs. I think about that. It's come a long way.

Q. When did you find out that you were going to be Game 1 starter? And had you been thinking about that possibility for a while?

KYLE BRADISH: Yeah, so we talked a little bit before my last outing, said there was a possibility. And then they officially told me yesterday.

Q. Where do you feel you've grown most this season?

KYLE BRADISH: There's a lot. I'd say -- I told you guys a lot, just command. Just knowing the pitcher I am. Get better every outing. And knowing what works for me.

Q. Is there a start that stands out to you this year that maybe didn't go the way you wanted and you took something away from that that has helped you to this point?

KYLE BRADISH: I'd say kind of the turning point was my outing in San Francisco. I had a rough inning and then got taken out at the 4th, and kind of there had a mindset shift. Just knowing that I can't keep doing that. It's hurting the bullpen, hurting the team.

Just going out there, working for a quality start every times was kind of the mindset after that.

Q. As you've been preparing, what stands out to you for Texas, a team you haven't faced in a couple of months now?

KYLE BRADISH: Watched them on TV a lot. Got really good players. Really good offense. It will be a fun series. Faced them a couple of times this year and last year, so I'm familiar with most of their guys. Really good offense.

Q. You talked about growth. What to you was the bigger year where you had a greater rate of growth? Was it 2022 when you really got your feet down in a Big League rotation, or was it this year when you got deeper in the game, and now you're starting Game 1 of a playoff game?

KYLE BRADISH: Good question. I'd say last year was kind of the bigger step for me. My first ten starts didn't go the way I wanted them to. And ended up on the injured list for about a month. And then came back and the second half was kind of just the complete opposite of what the first half was. I think that gave me the confidence to go into the offseason, to know what I can do, and have that success and just keep working for that.

Q. When you think about what this ballpark is going to be like when you take the mound tomorrow, the noise level, the intensity, the energy, what's the biggest thing for you to kind of control your emotions and pitch to the best of your ability?

KYLE BRADISH: Yeah, I mean it's going to be a blast having 45 plus thousand, Camden Yards filled up. It's going to be really exciting. It's the same game that I've been playing. I've played in big stadiums that are full and loud. Just have to embrace it. All these people are here to watch us and have fun, so why not do the same thing.

Q. Your teammates say how even keeled you are especially on the mound. How much do you think that's helped you all season?

KYLE BRADISH: I just try not to let one thing affect me too much. Kind of what I've been taught my whole career is take one pitch at a time, don't let the last one affect the next one. Just got to go out there, trust my stuff, my defense, and know we've been doing it all year, keep it rolling.

Q. You mentioned your first ten starts last year. Grayson went through kind of a similar thing this season. Do you talk about it at all?

KYLE BRADISH: We talked a little bit when he was struggling and then ended up going down. Talked a little bit when he was down. And then we came back up. Just told him what I was told, hey, this is an opportunity to go clear your mind and get back to what you've done to get you here. So, I mean, hats off to him for running with that. And he's been so great for this team this second half since he's came up.

Q. You and the rest of the starters have taken big leaps this year. What do the playoffs represent to you as an opportunity to show what's been happening here?

KYLE BRADISH: I think it's another way for us to showcase our talents. There's a lot of talk that our pitching staff particularly the starting pitchers haven't been the strong suit to the team. So I think it's another opportunity to show what we are actually capable of.

Q. The Rangers starters obviously did really well against the Rays. How important is it for you to go out to there, set the tone, when you're matched up against them on the mound?

KYLE BRADISH: I think it's important to go out in any game and set the tone as the starting pitcher. Especially at home, being the first guy. So just going out there and set the tone and just let our guys know that we're here.

Q. You guys are one of the surprise teams in the league last year. There's never a guarantee that the next year you'll be able to be even better. What has allowed you guys to put yourself in a position right now, where you're the one seed in the American League?

KYLE BRADISH: I think the best thing is we're all friends, having that bond in the clubhouse, the culture that Hyde and everybody else has kind of created. And then just the talent that we have on the team through the free agents that we brought in to the younger guys that came up. I think you see a complete team that actually pull for each other, no matter what.

Q. Combined quality of your breaking balls, have they been the best in your time in the pros right now are they, and what makes them that?

KYLE BRADISH: Yeah, it's this whole season. After that first month where we kind of started relying on those heavier, they've kind of grown as well as have I as a pitcher, and they just play off of each other. They're both hard, but slider goes one direction, and the curveball is 12-6. So that helps keep hitters kind of off balance.

Q. Is it kind of surreal you're starting Game 1 your second season in the show? What does this mean that you have the trust from Hyde to be that starter?

KYLE BRADISH: It's an honor to start this first playoff game. I want to say thanks to Hyde and everybody else. But I expect -- this is what I expect out of myself, so I just really looking forward to it.

Q. Brandon talked about the calmness in the locker room, being loose. How do you keep that level throughout this time with the Rangers?

KYLE BRADISH: I think just keep doing what we've been doing all year. We don't let that many things affect us. I think we're pretty even-keeled as a whole team. So just keep going about our business, and doing what we've been doing to get us here.