NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 11, 2023

Brian Snitker

Citizens Bank Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Snit, now that we know it was Bryce Elder to start Game 3, can you tell us what went into the decision?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. We had talked to him up to right before we got on the plane yesterday. I think we just kind of felt like after the way he threw at the intersquad and with the layoff, that he was the guy. He's been a starter for us all year. It was a big reason why we won the decision. We liked what we saw.

Q. What you saw last week, does that give you reason to think rest will be a benefit?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. Absolutely, because you know what, I think he's a young guy, in his first full year. I think the skip in the start and just the rest was good for him, and we liked -- again, during the intersquad, we liked what we saw.

Q. You had said A.J. was in the consideration. Could he perhaps follow Bryce?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah, no. He's in the pen. Yeah. Absolutely could.

Q. And then in spring you always say you never know who's going to help you out. How gratifying is it to see Bryce get this opportunity?

BRIAN SNITKER: No, it's awesome. Yeah, I'm happy. I feel good about this, the decision that we made. So like I say, man, there's a guy that laid it on the line for you for however many starts all year, fought through some adversities as they all do. So I'm happy that he's having this opportunity.

Q. He got out of so much trouble in the first half with ground balls, double play grounders. Did you see more of that in the enter squads?

BRIAN SNITKER: No. Just the action on the pitches. When you looked at the Hawkeye and all that other than the naked eye. And we threw him against our lineup, too, that day.

It wasn't like he was facing a minor league team. It was against our guys, and everybody felt, I think when that was over, that he was worth a discussion.

Q. Could you comment a little bit about how Ronald has played the first couple of games at the plate?

BRIAN SNITKER: I think, like a lot of our guys, I think you can see that he had five days off. And like I say, as much as we did to try and recreate the game situation and everything, it's not the same. And I think the at-bats amount for him and the rest of the guys are going to continue to get better.

Q. There's been so much made about Citizens Bank Park and the crowd and the energy and how it works in their favor. But how can it also work on the favor of your guys, who love playing in that environment?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. I think it can. I think the energy and emotion and everything, our guys could feed off that also. I think they're excited about getting in this environment. It is. It's nuts and crazy and all that, but I think it's a fun place to play for these guys.

Q. I know you mentioned A.J. Smith-Shawver being in the mix as well. How will you be evaluating Bryce as far as the leash he has tonight?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. Just by that, I guess. You know, just seeing the outcome. You gotta get outs. Quite honestly, you gotta get outs. Postseason, you gotta get outs, and we'll just see where it's going.

Q. Aaron Nola has thrown more innings against Braves than any other active pitcher. How do you prepare your team to face a pitcher you're so familiar with in this situation?

BRIAN SNITKER: Yeah. Like I say, these guys know what they're in for, because they all have so many at-bats against Nola the last few years.

I don't think any of them we need to have any huge meetings or anything like that, because they know how he's going to attack them. And we got a lot of guys with a lot of experience against him. So I think that can work both ways. He's got a lot of experience against us, too.

Q. Do you know who's starting Game 4?

BRIAN SNITKER: Spencer Strider.

Q. Just the regular rest and the format allows you to do this?

BRIAN SNITKER: Exactly, yeah. We were fortunate that we don't have to use anybody on short rest because of all the off days.

Q. Just on your experience before you had this job as a coach, managing in the minor leagues. Is there anything that was important to you to learn at this level once you got this job that maybe you didn't know?

BRIAN SNITKER: Probably more patience than I ever thought. Honestly, I knew that's always something that's big, I think, at any level, but it's even more so here, which I admire, and I think I learned from probably one of the most patient men I've ever met in my life. So I got to sit beside him for a number of years and watch that firsthand.

Q. You had said Saturday that the doctors and Kyle were going to kind of confer. Has a procedure been scheduled, and what did they say was the result?

BRIAN SNITKER: You know what, he went to Texas, and it's forthcoming soon, his procedure.

Q. Knowing that it's a close-out game on one side or the other tomorrow, how do you feel like Spencer will sort of use the emotion for or against?

BRIAN SNITKER: I think he'll relish it. I think he was very excited to get that opening start in the playoff round, and I think he'll be very, you know, excited and prepared and ready for the start tomorrow, too.