AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 14, 2023

Jordan Montgomery

Minute Maid Park

Texas Rangers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Your reaction to getting the ball for Game 1 and really setting the tone for the Rangers in the series?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I'm excited for the opportunity. I mean, it's a big game, big series. And I'm excited to go out there and kind of do my best for the team.

Q. How have you guys been able to ride the ups and downs of the past month, the two different series against Seattle that went differently and rebounding when you went to Tampa? Seems like a roller coaster this past month.

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Yeah, I think baseball in general is a roller coaster for 162 games. You've kind of got to roll with the punches and stay as even as you can.

Q. What has changed for you since the trade and getting back together with Mike Maddux?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Not really anything. I got with Mike last year, and we had a lot of success for about ten starts with St. Louis, and I tried to carry it over to this year. And I'll say just having Mike around and seeing how my stuff is moving has been a help.

Q. In Baltimore you said you weren't really feeling your best in that start. What were you feeling there and what can you take in this start against Houston?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Everything was a little unsynced up. So just got to find my timing and execute more pitches.

Q. How was it handling the crowd at Baltimore, how loud they were? How do you handle that, when you go out there tomorrow, here with the roof closed, how loud it will be?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I don't think there's really any way to prepare for a playoff game. You've just got to go out there and compete. We pitched in a lot of sold-out crowds. Seattle was rocking when we were playing there at the end of the year. Really just kind of stay as composed as you can and try and execute as many pitches as you can, compete.

Q. I know you haven't been here that long, but how big of an impact has Jonah Heim had on you personally and then the pitching staff as a whole down the stretch here?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: He's awesome. To have a catcher that plays every day like he does, you really grow comfortable throwing to him. He has an idea of what you want to throw, kind of how you like to work and how fast you like to work. He's just a really talented player.

Q. What do you make of facing the Houston lineup, that it's lefties, it's lefty on lefty, it's not the usual advantage? How do you prepare for them?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Yeah, you've got to bring your A game. Yordan and Tucker are really good players, and up and down that lineup everybody is pretty talented. So you've really just got to attack and execute as many as you can.

Q. You have obviously seen tremendous offensive contributions from him and rapport between you guys, but defensively what can you say about him and his ability to maybe flip a game?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I mean, he throws guys out at second all the time. He's got a strong arm and just really good defensively behind the plate. Just really kind of all around really good catcher.

Q. You mentioned Mike Maddux. What do you think about his coaching style that has made him successful for a long time now?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I think he's just got a ton of experience. He's probably worked with every type of pitcher there is. So if something is ever out of whack, he's got a different way to tell you every day. If that doesn't stick, he'll try another way of saying it.

And just kind of always there. He wants the best for us. He's always there to help. He's just a really good coach.

Q. You faced the Astros in June when you were with St. Louis. How much can you take away from a start that's four months ago?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Probably not much. I mean, I don't think Yordan was in the lineup. I can't remember who else was hurt. But obviously it wasn't an easy game. There's no such thing as an easy game against Houston. But definitely just going to try and -- if I can recreate that, that would be great.

Q. Since coming over from St. Louis, can you give me one word that describes this group that you're with right now?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: Compete. I think we've got a ton of competitors on this team that are, one through nine, every pitcher we have, just ready to take the ball or get that big AB. If the guy in front of them doesn't get it done, the guy after you is going to do the best to get it done.

Q. Something Mike Maddux said about you this season is you're using all the tools in your toolbox. What has led to you learning how to use all your pitches better and using them the way you want to?

JORDAN MONTGOMERY: I think it's just kind of having confidence in every pitch, knowing if I get it to a spot, it's going to be okay. I've got a lot of different spots I can kind of hit to kind of make the hitter's job a little harder.