AL WILD CARD SERIES: ROYALS VS ORIOLES

October 1, 2024

Zach Eflin

Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles

Postgame Press Conference

Kansas City Royals 1, Baltimore Orioles 0

Q. Questions for Zach. How difficult is it, the circumstances after losing Game 1, knowing what's on your shoulders for tomorrow?

ZACH EFLIN: You look at it as an opportunity, you know. We have an opportunity to right the ship tomorrow and we are going to show up prepared and be ready to go.

Q. For you personally when did you find out you were starting and how do you approach a playoff start? Is it the same as any other start?

ZACH EFLIN: I was aware of a couple different circumstances but just found out here recently. So looking forward to it. It's an amazing opportunity, and you know, looking forward to having a lot of fun with the guys tomorrow.

Q. When you say recently, do you mean after the game?

ZACH EFLIN: I was aware of certain scenarios heading into the game. So I was aware of kind of when I might be going.

Q. Is that difficult to not know going into the series what day you're going to pitch? I know you're taking everything day-to-day anyway, but would it have been helpful to know a couple days ago that you're going to pitch tomorrow?

ZACH EFLIN: Not really. I'm honestly not that kind of person or pitcher. My game is ready for it. That's how I've always been.

Q. What was it like watching Burnes today?

ZACH EFLIN: Incredible. From pitch one, he set the tone. That's exactly what a number one does. He's done it all year and his whole career. He was super special tonight. Very fun to watch.

Q. Your playoff history, I don't know that much about it. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

ZACH EFLIN: I have relieved and I've started. So there you go.

Q. I know you and Corbin are both different pitchers, but do you feel like he gave you a little bit of a roadmap of how you can attack Kansas City tomorrow?

ZACH EFLIN: No doubt. You know, looking at his stuff, he's obviously in his own category. You know, but being able to attack the guys, get ahead of him, get contact when needed to, he kind of just took the game plan and put it out there.

Q. Brandon when we talked to him said that you guys knew that the next step is to just turn the page and look towards tomorrow. Do you have confidence in this group to be able to flush what happened today and to just focus on tomorrow?

ZACH EFLIN: Yeah, no doubt. Feels like since at least the time I've been here, any corner we've been backed into, we've come out on the right side of things. You know, as much as it hurts to lose the first game, we still have two more opportunities to win the series and continue on. There's nobody hanging their head or anything. We are looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. Do you have to treat this like just another game, or you realize the magnitude of it tomorrow with the season on the line?

ZACH EFLIN: I think at the end of the day you treat it like any other game. Obviously knowing the circumstances behind the game. But you've got to be free and easy and play this game like that.

So I keep telling you guys, we're going to have some fun tomorrow and play some good baseball.

Q. What were your thoughts on the atmosphere here today?

ZACH EFLIN: Incredible. It's a really special place here in October, so we are looking forward to continuing that.