AL WILD CARD SERIES: ROYALS VS ORIOLES

October 1, 2024

Seth Lugo

Camden Yards

Kansas City Royals

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Just your emotions coming in, knowing that you're going to be on the hill for Game 2 coming into the playoffs? I know a lot of folks don't get the opportunity, but to pitch in the postseason, what's that mean to you?

SETH LUGO: It's really exciting. Should be a lot of fun. Something I've been looking forward to for a long time, so happy to be here.

Q. When you signed here, you talked about playing with Bobby. I wonder now that you have a full season with him, what are your impressions of what he's been able to do on the field, off the field, now that you've gotten to know him?

SETH LUGO: He's an incredible athlete. You know, really, really good person. What he's done on the field, it's pretty amazing to see him do that all season long. It's been special to watch.

Q. What has been the biggest growth for you as you come to the Royals and make this jump as a starter?

SETH LUGO: I feel like as far as the way I pitch and go about my business, the same way I have for years now, but to consistently pitch deep and pitch as many innings as I did this year was pretty nice for me.

Q. As far as the Orioles, only one start against them and it was a while ago but what do you take from that outing into tomorrow?

SETH LUGO: I try to remember some of the scouting report stuff that I had. You know, I remember a couple mistakes I made in that game but you know, it's one of those things where you remember that stuff but you're not going to make an adjustment off it. You're going to try to execute your pitches, try to keep your game plan intact, and you know, just do the best you can do.

Q. A couple magic numbers for you this year, 33 starts, 206 innings. I guess how much do you appreciate the Royals getting to that point and putting faith in you and you responding by putting up the year that you did?

SETH LUGO: Yeah, all the gratitude for the organization. I know to throw as many innings as I did, you have to execute but you also have to get given the opportunity, and that's what they did for me. Extremely grateful.

Q. With the news coming out that Vinnie is added to the roster, what does he bring to the clubhouse maybe that's been missing since his injury?

SETH LUGO: His approach in the box, it's incredible. I faced him last year. He's not a guy I like to face. But with the way his mind works and the way he communicates to the rest of the team, I think everyone else around him benefits as far as hitters go. It's pretty incredible that he's back and really happy for it.

Q. Talking about looking at the performance back in April and your notes from then, but how much of your approach to tomorrow will be dictated by what you see from the Orioles lineup of the Orioles hitters today? Are you kind of watching this game with sort of a scouting eye?

SETH LUGO: Yeah, that's how about I go about my game plan in every start. I'm fortunate to get to watch them play tonight in-person rather than just relying on videos.

But yeah, I'm going to see what Cole is doing out there today and what's working and perhaps what's not working and make adjustments on the go. That's kind of how I always do it.

Q. The rotation has been a strength of this team all year, and Q said yesterday that the plan is not to go twice through the order or five-and-die or anything like that; that you guys are going to pitch as long as he feels like you can. What do you feel about having that responsibility on that platform in this day and age, and what does it take to pitch deep effectively into a post-game environment?

SETH LUGO: I think that's nice. I think that's how the game is supposed to be played and how that's I approach my games. I think all season long, us as a starting rotation, we've really leaned on each other to pick up things here and there, when it's a whole lineup or just one specific player.

It really comes down to being the aggressor, throwing strikes, quality strikes, and not giving in to hitters.

Q. For those of us who have only gotten to watch Cole maybe pitch on TV a couple times this year, what has impressed you just watching him up close through the whole year?

SETH LUGO:

A. I mean, really, his aggressiveness, his velocity, obviously, and you know, the change of speeds that he has. But also the command of all his pitches. You know, he never shies away from hitters. He's always going right at guys. You know, when you watch him pitch, he may be young but it's something to look up to.

Q. Having a veteran catcher like Salvador Perez, someone who has been here and done that and has seen quite a bit, how much have you leaned on someone with that level of experience? I know you've been around the big leagues for a while but to have a catcher with that level of experience?

SETH LUGO: As far as leading the whole team, that's kind of big-time for us. We need his energy every day. When we are going through a game plan, you know, I rely on him, pick his brain, what pitches he thinks would work. But we kind of bounce ideas off each other; so it's a mutual conversation. Everything he does, it's pretty impressive. You know, all the accolades and everything that he's put together, he's obviously worthy of.

Q. When you faced the Orioles the first month of the season, they were coming off 101-win season and they were hot the first two months of the season. They have not been quite that hot since obviously, and a lot of times haven't been. What is your perception watching film of their offensive lineup?

SETH LUGO: I know they have got some good hitters. Obviously I faced them early in the season but watched their game Thursday night, or Friday night. Got to see their hitters a couple times through the lineup watching that game.

They are professional hitters with professional approaches. Something you've got to respect and you've got to adjust for.