AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 23, 2023

Chas McCormick

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 7 Press Conference

Q. Do you ever get a sense this team presses at all, or do you get a -- when you come in the clubhouse every day, are the guys always the same, or are you able to get a read on that kind of stuff?

CHAS MCCORMICK: You try to get a read on that stuff every time you enter the clubhouse. But I think we stay the same. We've been in the playoffs the past couple years. We know all the ups and downs. Obviously we haven't played that well at home here, and that's kind of the biggest issue right now.

We've got one more game to prove ourselves. It's the biggest game of the year tonight. It's Game 7. I don't think -- I think we're okay, yeah. I think the ups and downs, I don't think we worry about that much. And obviously we took a tough loss last night. This is do or die tonight, and we're ready to go.

Q. I think Mauricio said last night, why he's confident, "Because we're Houston." In game, is there any way that kind of confidence is actionable and something you feel inside of the dugout?

CHAS MCCORMICK: Yeah, definitely. I like how Dubón said that. It's true. We're Houston Astros. We've been to many World Series, many ALCSs. So we thrive in October. We thrive in the playoffs. Last year was a smooth ride in the playoffs because we won a lot. This is a little different story, playing Game 7. This is personally my first Game 7. I'm really excited for it.

Yeah, we are the Houston Astros. So definitely agree with what he said and I liked that because it's true and we know when to turn it on and we feel good in October.

Q. I know you're tired of answering the home-field stuff. Is there any sort of day-to-day adjustment in any way that you guys can make here?

CHAS MCCORMICK: Yeah, I mean, especially here. Obviously we played really well on the road, but back home we have to figure out how to win games, simple as that. We haven't won enough games here. Last night hurt us. But since it's Game 7, it's the last time to prove ourselves that we can win at home. And we've got to kind of take it that way and make sure we finish the job tonight and make these fans happy.

Q. What makes Javier so tough as a starting pitcher, and you have faced Scherzer before. You get him again. Can you take us through your thoughts will be going against him a second time?

CHAS MCCORMICK: Yeah, I think this is who we want on the mound tonight, Cristian Javier. He's been lights out for a couple of weeks now. He's been a great pitcher. He's tough because when he's throwing 93, 94, it gets on you like it's 96, 97. Obviously he has a great slider as well. The harder he throws, the harder it is to hit him.

That's what I've seen from him the last couple of weeks. He's been up to 95, 96. If we get that Javier tonight, we'll be in really good shape. We've seen Scherzer pretty well. But it's kind of a different story. It's Game 7 tonight so everybody is going to be super prepared and it's going to be a war out there.

Q. You said it's your first Game 7. How does that feel for you? Did you do anything different today? How are you approaching this tonight?

CHAS MCCORMICK: Yeah, I just woke up this morning, trying to talk to God. Just put all the blessings towards the Houston Astros tonight. Just want to finish the job tonight.

It's going to be loud, it's going to be fun. These are the games you live for. As a kid you always dreamed to play Game 7s. Yeah, I just did a little prayer this morning and just made sure we're ready to go tonight.