Q. What was it like from your vantage point last night, including seeing some of your rotation counterparts get in the game?
BRYCE MILLER: Yeah, it was a hell of a game. This was my first time seeing a game from that perspective, being in the bullpen.
No, it was a lot of fun. The crowd was fired up the whole time. Yeah, it was cool seeing Logan come in with the flames on, and he looked like he'd been there before. He walked out all slow like he had done it before. Yeah, then seeing Luis come in, and seeing everybody top to bottom, just absolutely grind and put up 0s one after the other was really cool and fun to watch.
Q. What does it mean to you to be named Game 1 starter for the ALCS?
BRYCE MILLER: Yeah, it's super cool. I'm fired up. Yeah, I'm ready to go. Pitching in the playoffs is something you dream of, and just getting the opportunity to start us off and get us going early and set the tone is super meaningful, and yeah, I'm ready to go.
Q. You fought through some adversity early in the season. You were on the injured list. Does all the things you've been through this year make it mean more?
BRYCE MILLER: Yeah, for sure. The beginning of this year definitely personally didn't go as I had planned. But yeah, we're in the postseason; we won the DS, and now we're four wins away from the World Series.
My last outing, I felt really good. I think that was the best my stuff has been in a while. So yeah, I'm excited and looking forward to the opportunity.
Q. You've faced the Blue Jays once this year but it was in early May. Is there anything you take away from this matchup or five months later is it just throw it out and new game plan?
BRYCE MILLER: No, I mean, that was the last start before I went on the IL. I think I've faced them twice, one time in '23 and that one, and both of them, they're not much to look at. I think I'm a different pitcher than I was that last start, especially different than I was in '23.
I'm sure they're a different team, as well. They've been swinging it really well. They swung it really well against the Yankees, and they've got a good team. We've definitely got some work ahead for us, but yeah, it'll be fun.
Q. What's the biggest challenge on pitching with short rest?
BRYCE MILLER: I've never pitched on four days, so I don't know yet. But no, it's been a weird week. First off, I only threw 55 pitches in my start, so in the moment, I was not as happy with that, but now I'm glad I did because now I'm pitching on four days, so everything works out.
Then yeah, yesterday I knew I was going to go to the bullpen, so I ended up throwing a little bit off the mound before the game because I'm not going to get like an actual bullpen this week since everything is short, so it ended up working out perfect. I threw about 10 pitches off the mound yesterday before the game, and that'll count as my bullpen, and I had a lighter week on the start with the volume. Yeah, I'll be ready to go. I feel good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports