AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 17, 2024

Stephen Vogt

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Can you take us through the decision to start Schneemann?

STEPHEN VOGT: All year long, we've gone with everybody on the roster. That's what we do, we play everybody on the roster. Schnee has been having really good at-bats in our sim games and just going with Schnee, I feel like it's his turn.

Q. Do you have a starter for Game 4?

STEPHEN VOGT: Yeah, Galvin Williams will start tomorrow.

Q. What was the decision behind starting Gavin in Game 4?

STEPHEN VOGT: We need a starter for Game 4, and Gavin is ready to go. He's been good for us all year, and we're excited to give him the ball tomorrow.

Q. How about Hedges behind the plate today?

STEPHEN VOGT: Yeah, I think just with the way we've been working behind the plate, I like Hedgy getting us through this game and gives us an opportunity to get Boyd deep in the game and have Bo bat off the bench, as well, and just going with Hedgy today.

Q. There's obviously a balance between trying to get results in the here and now and then looking ahead. When it comes to your relievers, is there any scenario where you could use someone three days in a row?

STEPHEN VOGT: Our guys have all gone three in a row at one point or another throughout the year, so we're available to do that. Obviously we know we need to win today, but we also have a lot of games left in this series, so we're going to continue to be mindful of how we use guys, but we also need to get the win.

All of our guys out of the bullpen have gone three days in a row, at least once, if not twice throughout the year, so we're not going to be afraid to do that.

Q. Yankees led the majors in walks during the season and they're on a record pace during the postseason. What are the challenges of facing a lineup that has some very dangerous guys and you want to work the edges, but they have that level of collective discipline?

STEPHEN VOGT: It's exactly that. It's difficult. They're a very tough lineup to navigate because of that. You have to come into the zone and you have to get them out in the zone, and they're all very good hitters. We have to execute. We have to come right after them with our best stuff in the zone and limit the free bases that we give them because they really do a great job of cashing in when you do give them a free base.

We love Matt Boyd. He's really good in the zone. His stuff plays in the zone. I'm expecting him to go deep tonight.

Q. What's your approach to when to use Clase? It's hard to think you can't get him into a game and he's so good, but he's a closer and you need him -- what's your approach with him?

STEPHEN VOGT: He's been our best pitcher all year. We want to use him. But there was certain scenarios where we were going to use him in Game 2 earlier that didn't get there.

We've trusted our bullpen to get the ball to Clase all year long and that cadence isn't going to change, and it's just a matter of getting the game to him when we can.

Q. He doesn't necessarily need to have a lead --

STEPHEN VOGT: Correct. Correct.

Q. Do you have an ideal length for Boyd tonight? Is there a pitch count or innings or anything?

STEPHEN VOGT: Just like every other game, we're hoping our starter gets us deep into the game. It is as many outs as he can get us until we feel like it's time to move on.