NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 9, 2024

Matt Strahm

Citi Field

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. I know you're ready to pitch always in a situation. Does it change at all tonight knowing big situations, second, third inning, maybe that's where you go? Does your mindset change at all in an elimination game?

MATT STRAHM: No, obviously, whatever I'm needed for I'm up for, and whenever Topper is ready to fire a bullet I'll be ready.

Q. What was the bus ride like back last night, this morning, today being in the clubhouse, just the overall kind of vibe of the team being in this spot?

MATT STRAHM: Yeah, I think something that's unique about this team is just how many veterans we have on here and we all are aware of what's at stake today. Nothing needs to be said to anyone. We don't need no rah-rah. We know what we need to do.

Q. The bullpen has been good all year. I guess what's the confidence level of the group now that they've kind of struggled in the last three games?

MATT STRAHM: We're nasty, so we're good.

Q. We've seen a lot of bullpens around baseball struggle this postseason in particular. And I'm curious how much that has to do with these Division Series being between division rivals. Are you at all concerned about over exposure? They've seen you so many times. Does that feel like it's playing a role at all?

MATT STRAHM: I mean it's obviously -- I mean, anything you do a lot of it gets easier usually. So you have less room for error. So I mean like I can point out two pitches that will stand out to me for awhile, and it's the fastball to Nimmo was supposed to be up and I yanked it down and he takes advantage of it. And then to Vientos it was supposed to be down and I shot it up and he took advantage of it. They know what we're doing. If we execute it we're going to be fine. But it's just execution -- there's less room for error in situations like this late in the season when they've seen you so much.

Q. Even after what you just said, Rob was saying he's super hyperparanoid of you guys in terms of tipping, whatnot. I'm wondering how you are, even when you know you might mis-execute a pitch.

MATT STRAHM: I pitched against the '17 Astros and I got them out, too, so bad (laughter).

Q. It's sort of like a philosophical question, what is it like to be in your role where you know you can make just one or two mistakes and that's what people remember versus pitching seven innings and you can make one or two mistakes and people don't remember that. Why do you want to do this?

MATT STRAHM: Yeah, I mean, we joke all the time we're the field goal kickers of the team. Nobody remembers the kicks you make, everybody remembers the kicks you miss. It's part of the job and I would trade everything for what I did last year in the DS. I got to close it out. Whatever comes my way, I can deal with it for that.