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The Milwaukee Brewers will hand the ball to their ace, Jacob Misiorowski, for Game 1 of the 2026 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, Oct. 23. The hard-throwing right-hander, widely expected to win the National League Cy Young Award, aims to give Milwaukee an early edge as the franchise pursues its first-ever World Series title.
Milwaukee has emerged victorious in both of Misiorowski's postseason starts, but the 24-year-old has not been the overwhelming force he was during the regular season. Against the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, he failed to complete five innings in either outing, throwing 88 and 94 pitches respectively while surrendering a combined three earned runs.
Regular-Season Dominance
During his 30 starts in 2026, Misiorowski was virtually unhittable. He tied for third in the majors with 16 wins, and his 0.80 WHIP was the lowest by a major league starter since Pedro Martinez in 2000. His 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 252 strikeouts, and 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings all led the majors. Additionally, his four-seam fastball averaged 100.6 mph, the highest among all big-league starting pitchers.
Postseason Struggles
In two playoff starts, Misiorowski has posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over a small sample, taking no-decisions in both games. The primary reason for his diminished dominance, as MLB.com's David Adler noted, is a sharp decline in swinging strikes. During the regular season, Misiorowski threw his fastball 60% of the time, more than any other starter, and induced whiffs on 40% of those four-seamers. In the postseason, that whiff rate has fallen to 16%, even though 96 of his 122 fastballs have been clocked at 100 mph or higher. Padres and Dodgers hitters have excelled at fouling off those pitches.
Key Analysis
Misiorowski's ability to generate swings and misses against Rays hitters could be the pivotal factor in Game 1. While his velocity remains intact, the reduced whiff rate suggests that opponents are adapting to his fastball-heavy approach. If Misiorowski can rediscover his strikeout form, the Brewers' chances of capturing their first World Series improve significantly. Conversely, if Tampa Bay's hitters continue to spoil his best pitches, Milwaukee may need to rely on its bullpen earlier than desired.
Originally reported by yahoo.