AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 17, 2023

Martin Maldonado

Globe Life Field

Houston Astros

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. After losing with your top two starters on the mound, how do you think the pitching staff is positioned to help you guys dig out of this hole at this point, and what do you think their mindset will be?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: You know, I think it could go either way, they'll keep us in the game. And then I think Framber had that one bad inning, first inning. Other than that, I think the pitching staff has been pretty good.

I would say, like I told you guys before, we've got Javier going, one of our best starters, especially when we need a win. I think we feel really confident. We've been in this situation before, down in the series. We're taking it one game at a time.

Q. We know you guys have had a couple of team meetings just at times this year. Is now the time for that, or everything is best left unsaid, you know what you need to do?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I think we know what we need to do. Actually, I don't think we really need a team meeting. I feel like we -- last two games we played a really good game, other than that tough first inning yesterday. I think we did a pretty good job on people getting on base. We got a couple solo homers yesterday. Other than that, we haven't got the big hit. And I think we, as a team, feel pretty good, even though we are down 2-0.

Q. How would you describe what it's like to catch Javier with the stuff he has?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: Fun.

Q. What makes him so good out there?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I don't know. Throw a good pitch at any time, good fastball, good slider. Attack the hitters. There's no moment too big for him. I think that's why I think we're going to be really good tomorrow.

Q. What's been the biggest difference that you've seen with Javier in the last three starts?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I don't know how to answer that.

Q. Talk about the comfort level you guys have in the ballpark. You've won a lot of games. What is it about this park?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I think we see the ball good here. We feel very comfortable here as a team. There's a lot of outfield gaps where a blooper can fall down, also the ball goes pretty much center in a lot places around the wall. So I think we're in the right stadium to make a comeback.

Q. We've heard you guys praised for being a club that doesn't really panic. In addition to Javi's stuff, the mentality that you rave about, is he the perfect guy to have on the mound in this predicament?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I think any other starter we have we feel really comfortable giving that chance to win. I mention Javi because he's the one pitching tomorrow, but I think Javi, he did it in Minnesota, he did it last year when I think we were losing 2-1 in the World Series, and he stepped up.

I think that was a big moment for him. Like I say before, you don't call him El Reptil for something. I feel like that guy, you don't see any blood going through his veins. He's the right guy for us. We believe in him. And couldn't be more happy to have him on the mound tomorrow.

Q. Given the fact that you guys do play and hit better on the road, did it feel like a little bit of relief coming here today?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: I don't think it's a relief that we hit better on the road. We know we've got to win some games. Doesn't matter if we play here or Yankee Stadium. I think we've got to focus on winning games. We're here now, so might as well win here.

Q. Do you have any idea why you think you guys play better on the road?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: If I would have known that it would make an adjustment in the beginning of the year. So tough to answer.

Q. Last night Alex Bregman talked about taking it pitch-by-pitch, which is different than one game at a time. He meant one pitch at a time. How do you look at it?

MARTÍN MALDONADO: We're going pitch-by-pitch. You try to win every pitch. Another inning from both side of the plate, so both side of the game. As I say, we've been there before. We have the right guys going tomorrow as a team. So it's a matter of executing the little things and having a big hit, pitching and defense. So I think that's starting at that.