Q. The obvious first, what does it mean to be the Game 1 starter?
NICK PIVETTA: For me it's a really cool experience, very grateful for it. Very excited for it. I've always wanted to be in these positions my whole career. Looking to take advantage of it and do my best.
Q. How aware are you of the importance of Game 1, especially since this Wild Card round has started, Game 1 winner is pretty successful?
NICK PIVETTA: I think it's always important to get off to a hot start, but it's not making things too big. I think it's just going out believing in my talents, believing in what I've done this year and just going out and executing my game plan, and just relying on my teammates behind me to make defensive plays and to put up runs and to just go through it like it's another night.
Q. Nick, why do you think you've had maybe the best season of your career, especially first year with a new team, sometimes there's an adjustment period but your numbers across the board are really good. Why do you think that has occurred?
NICK PIVETTA: I mean, I think we could get into a lot of that, but I think for me it's really honing in on the fundamentals of the game, making some slight adjustments mechanically and with how my pitching arsenal works.
But just being able to consistently be in the strike phone, attacking hitters, getting ahead of hitters and putting myself in advantageous counts and being able to put guys away has led to success. And just being able to repeat that over and over again. You see great pitchers in the game, one thing to have is consistency. And I was able to do that throughout the whole season.
Q. Nick, with this Cubs lineup in particular, what stands out so far in your prep about facing them?
NICK PIVETTA: I don't want to go too much into my game plan with them, but just talking about them as baseball players, as people, it's a great organization, great hitters, they've had a good year this year. So you can't take them lightly.
But I've had some experience against individual hitters and the team as a whole this year. So I look forward to the challenge, but I think it's just making sure that I'm staying in advantageous counts, getting ahead of them and putting pressure on them.
Q. It's your first year with the organization, but this is a group that has a lot of postseason experience. What gives you confidence that this group can make a deep run?
NICK PIVETTA: You can definitely just rely on your teammates through their experience, kind of like what you said. I don't have to do too much. These guys have been here before. They were here recently. They have an understanding of what everybody's goal is in mind, and that's to win a World Series. This is the first step, first game. But I think having that experience and being able to kind of hone in on that is really important.
Q. I know it was about as long as ago it could be in one season, you faced these guys and they were pretty patient with you. Didn't go extremely well that day. You haven't had a day like that since. What did you learn from that one? What will you take into tomorrow?
NICK PIVETTA: I watched that start back -- I had a decent start against them earlier in the season at our house and kind of struggled. I think I got myself more into trouble than I needed to. I was walking more hitters. I think I had bases loaded three times in that game.
So, staying out of those situations, like I said, getting ahead of guys, attacking the strike zone and allowing my defense to make plays, getting ahead in the dugout will lead to success.
Q. When you arrived you took a moment to look around. What was going through your head?
NICK PIVETTA: For me it was just taking in the moment. I enjoy this field. It's a very beautiful day here in Chicago. The sun is nice. I haven't had much time to be outside. So I just walked around the stadium, got a good photo. You just take in the moments and appreciate them and very grateful for them. And excited, too.
Q. What do you know now about Mike and Ruben and the Padres obviously that you couldn't have known when you arrived back in February?
NICK PIVETTA: I think it's the determination to win. I think with the amount of work that goes in on a daily basis, the amount of group think and chatter that you see. Everybody showing up and doing their parts. It's an organization as a whole, working together.
And now it's just how far can the players go and provide those wins and those things on the field. But as all it's just a bunch of professionals working and grinding for us players and trying to put us in the best position to win.
Q. Every pitcher has a player. And this team it's Justin Turner. What have you tried, what have you done with him in the past to try to get him out?
NICK PIVETTA: What do you mean by "every team has a player"? Are you talking about --
Q. Every pitcher has a --
NICK PIVETTA: Are you referring to he's hit me well? I don't know if Justin is going to be in the lineup, to be honest with you. But if he comes in the lineup, I'll attack him like I always have and hopefully the cards go in my direction.
Q. You mentioned you've got a picture when you're walking around, where did you get the picture?
NICK PIVETTA: Just behind home plate.
Q. What do you like about this place coming here and pitching?
NICK PIVETTA: I think every baseball player appreciates Wrigley Field for its history. I think it's a very unique field. I think it's just a cool field. I like the color green. The color is nice. I think it's part of baseball history. It's baseball in general. I have a great appreciation for the sport and every field and individual and person, but it's I think just being cognizant, being present, it's just very important.
Q. What's the prep like for a team that will steal some bases compared to one that doesn't run that much?
NICK PIVETTA: I think it just goes into, we have our coaching staff who tells us who the runners are, where they like to take off, what counts, how they like to steal bases, but I think it's just being cognizant of them being on base and mixing your times, making sure you're providing a quick delivery to the plate to give the catchers appropriate time to throw the runner out.
But I think it just comes down to your game plan and understanding who the runners are and who the runners aren't and keeping a mental note in your mind as the game's going on. And I think the best key to success is not letting anybody on base.
Q. You mentioned facing the Cubs earlier this season. Is there advantage for one side or the other given that you guys haven't played each other since way back in April?
NICK PIVETTA: I don't really know. I think playoff baseball is playoff baseball. It's a different beast. It's a different game. I think we're just going to go out there like it's Game 1 and just go out there and go at each other like we always do.
It's an exciting time, exciting time for baseball, and we're going to give them our best and they'll probably give their best as well.
Q. In a short series like this, does home field advantage really matter from your perspective, your experience, Wrigley Field, you guys at home, is there a difference here?
NICK PIVETTA: I think it's always enjoyable, I mean, for either team, to play in front of their home crowd. Obviously they have their home clubhouse, which is always important. But at the end of the day, it's two teams playing the same game. It's who's going to come out on top, who is going to execute in the right situation, who is going to get the runners in and who is going to throw up zeros.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports