NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 13, 2024

Will Smith

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Dodgers - 9, Mets - 0

Q. You guys have struggled with getting length out of your starters over the last month or so. From your perspective being a part of that, how huge was Jack being able to go seven and being able to set up the rest of the series?

WILL SMITH: That was awesome by Flare. Gave us seven shutout, set the tone. We needed that. He really stepped up, gave us a really good start.

Q. One thing Doc mentioned was pitch mixing. What were you thinking approaching each guy and Jack's ability to assist, keeping everybody off balance?

WILL SMITH: Exactly that. Sticking to strengths for Jack, and obviously knowing how to attack their hitters. They're a good team. But we just executed pitches. Just mixed, tried not to be predictable. Just go one pitch at a time, and he did a great job executing. It was fun for me to be back there seeing him work and be a part of that.

Q. When Jack's pitching like that, does it kind of just give you the freedom to kind of call a little different game, like whatever you're feeling at the time because he's executing his pitches so well?

WILL SMITH: Yes and no. You're going one pitch at a time. You're trying to find that fine line of getting too cute or getting too much. Just keeping it simple, just going out there and executing each pitch. That's what he did.

Q. Since Flaherty's been here, Dave Roberts has talked a lot about how the moment never gets too big for him. Wondering before the starts, his starts, what kind of air does he give off?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, he's got an aura about him. He's super competitive, super focused. I see all his preparation he does for the couple days before the start.

It's intense. He's got intensity about him. He's had a great year. Obviously had great years in the past. And we're fortunate he's pitching for us in the postseason and giving us shutties.

Q. You're out there to win the game. You're not thinking about records. But 33 scoreless innings, an all-time record. What is your reflection on being part of that and sort of the bigger picture in the history of this game?

WILL SMITH: Yeah, that's cool. It's been a good streak, I guess, for our guys. They just went out there and dominated. I'm back there calling the pitches, but it's all those guys executing what we're deciding. So just trying to keep it going tomorrow.

Q. What goes into your preparation when it's a bullpen game like tomorrow compared to when you have a normal starter?

WILL SMITH: It's kind of the same. It's conversations with Mark, with Danny, conversations with the pitchers, what we're thinking, what we're going to do. It's just keeping them confident, keeping them going out there, just execute one pitch at a time.