The guy is a special player. He knows what he's doing out there. He's been baffling hitters for a long time, so it's not surprising to see what he's doing.

I feel I could help this team in that role. If not, so be it.

If I had the answer, I would have done it two months ago. You've got to go out there and keep pitching and be aggressive and try not to lose confidence and believe in yourself.

I don't know if I struggled all day, I just got away from my game plan and left a few pitches up in the zone. Some days the mistakes are going be hit out and some days you get away with them.

I put my team in a hole early and couldn't get out of it. Didn't do my job. I left a lot of balls up in the zone. They made me pay. ... I put my team in a bad position to win this game.

I really had a good tempo with my delivery, which allowed me to work balls down in the zone and have life on the ball. It allowed me to get a lot of quick outs early and get my arm in a good slot every other pitch.

In Atlanta, the fifth guy was always a younger guy who would get skipped. It didn't provide that guy the consistency he needed. Here, the last two years you knew no matter who got the ball, you had a better than average chance to win a game. It made it a lot more fun sitting on the bench watching somebody else pitch. I think they felt the same way. We care about how each other does. There's no segregation.

I'm just trying to put the bat on the ball and make something happen. Obviously, with the big guys coming up behind me, it's their job to get it done. I'm up there just to try and make something happen.

I'm a firm believer in you sticking with your strengths and what works for you. Until they show you they're going to make an adjustment, you keep attacking them the same way.

They told me during last night's game that I might be starting today. I did my normal day before routine so I would be ready.