Q. With Tony being scratched tonight, it moves you into the cleanup spot. How does that sit with you hitting in such an important part of the lineup for such a big game?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: To be honest with you, I don't pay much attention to that, and for me it's normal. I know the game. Go out there and compete and then execute the same plan that I do every game.
Q. As far as Max goes, he hasn't pitched in a while and he had a pretty rough September. What have you seen from him since the end of the season, and what are you expecting to see from him tonight?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: I've seen the same Max that I see every day, I mean, the guy that wants to go out there and to win the game, to compete, that mentality, the winning mentality. I seen that every day on him, so that's what we expect from him.
Q. From watching Max as an opponent when he's all intense and all the stuff that comes with Max versus actually working with him, how would you compare the two experiences?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: It's like two different people. I mean, when he was my opponent, you couldn't even talk to him. It was like that. Now that he's on my team, I mean, of course the experience that he brings to the team, to the clubhouse, it's unbelievable. Plus it's a different guy. He's a great guy with us.
Q. What did you have to learn about working with him?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: Well, the most difficult thing is me being a catcher, Max doesn't like for nobody to talk to him during the game. So it's something that you have to go through, you got to learn, but we always find a way.
Q. It's a long season, maybe the longest you've ever had, and obviously a catcher, everything that goes into game prep, everything that goes into studying the opposing pitchers as a hitter, how are you holding up mentally and physically?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: It's not easy. I mean, of course it's a long season. You got to do a lot. It's a lot of reports, you got to study the pitchers, it's a whole plan, a lot of information. But mentally and physically, I'm feeling good right now, and I feel in a good position right now.
Q. What does it mean having Andrés at shortstop? He's one of the finalists for the Gold Glove and having that balance right there in the middle on the field, what's it mean to have him as a teammate?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: I mean, having Andrés, it's huge, he's huge. In that dugout, we say, especially in the postseason, that's what wins games, having him one of the best in the league. And what he did last night was unbelievable on the offense. It's great to have him on my team.
Q. This is not known as a hitter's ballpark, at least not traditionally, but you guys have played four games here this season, had double-digit hits in each of those games, and scored quite a few runs. Is there something about this ballpark that just kind of works for your guys' lineup?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: To be honest with you, I don't know. I don't know what to tell you. But the only thing is we're just going to go out there today again, try to repeat what we have done in the past games here, and then hopefully it works out again.
Q. Whether you guys win or lose tonight, tomorrow's going to be a very big game either way. We're assuming that Kevin Gausman is going to start, though it hasn't been announced yet. But watching him this year, seeing him so far in the playoffs, what is it about Kevin that gives you confidence when he's out on the mound?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: I mean, he's been doing that for years already. I mean, that's why he's Kevin Gausman, one of the best. We have all the confidence in him and that's why he's our ace.
Q. Not to get too far ahead of ourselves again, but for the purposes of the writers who are writing ahead, what do you guys need to do differently against Bryce Miller tomorrow?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: I think in that first game, we had a little bit of bad luck too, but just be the same, be attacking the zone, be aggressive, that's who we are, and we'll see what happens.
Q. How much different did it feel coming to the ballpark today after the win compared to coming in yesterday when you were down 2-0?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: I think that's what makes us very special as a team, as a clubhouse. Regardless of the situation, the win, we always connect. We always connect, we always bring the positive energy, and so for us, regardless of the situation, that's the key is to stay connected.
Q. When the bottom of the lineup is as productive as it was yesterday, and it's been the case throughout the season, just how much of a difference does that make for the way that the offense works?
ALEJANDRO KIRK: That's what make us special. We don't know. I mean, like through the year, we have a different hero in our offense every day. We don't know. So that's what creates this offense that's been so special for us. Like, you don't know who is going to produce on the day.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports