Jacob Misiorowski unlikely to pitch in All-Star Game

The earned run came on a Sal Stewart homer off a 102.3-mph fastball, the fastest pitch that anyone has hit for a homer this year. The unearned runs came in the fourth after Jake Bauers error to start the frame; Misiorowski gave up two singles and a 358-foot homer to Jake Trevino afterwards. Misiorowski still struck out 10 for the seventh time this year. It’s the first time he’s given up more than three runs, but his 1.47 ERA barely changed because of the unearned runs. He’s expected to start Tuesday against the Cardinals and Sunday against the Pirates next week, which would take him out of play for the All-Star Game.

It’s going to be a tough decision for the National League skipper since Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski and Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez both are deserving candidates to start the Midsummer Classic. There’s no scenario where Ohtani will be able to pitch in relief since he’s in the lineup at DH and won’t be able to warm up during the game. Simply put, Ohtani is either going to start the game or not pitch at all. There might not be a decision either way for a couple weeks.

Misiorowski hit 105.5 mph on a first-inning heater to Pete Crow-Armstrong and didn’t allow a hit until Seiya Suzuki connected for a fifth-inning solo homer. That would be the lone run Misiorowski would allow in this one as he authored another masterful performance despite handing out four free passes. He did have to wiggle his way out of his final inning of work when he loaded the bases with two outs, but he was able to strike out Ian Happ to end the threat. The latest gem wraps up a dominant June for Misiorowski, who finishes with a 3-1 record, 0.82 ERA and 0.64 WHIP. He’s scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday at home against the Reds.

It was more of the same for Misiorowski at the start of this game. He was lighting up the radar gun with a handful of 103 and 104 mph fastballs and breezed through the Braves lineup twice over five innings. He wasn’t missing bats like he has been, but wasn’t allowing any damage either. Then, a walk and three singles in the sixth turned into two runs and put Misiorowski in line for the loss. The last time he allowed a run was on May 25th. The last time he allowed multiple runs was on April 25th! As he got into trouble, he tried to get away from his fastball a bit after throwing it nearly 75% of the time over the first five innings. Perhaps, now that we know he’s mortal, he’ll try to mix his cutter and slider in more than he has lately. Regardless, he still left this outing with a 1.45 ERA, 138 strikeouts, and 23 walks through 93 innings so far this season. He’s scheduled to face the Reds in Cincinnati next time out.

This was a jaw-dropping performance. There was never a moment where Misiorowski wasn’t in complete control and he was one Kyle Schwarber single away from throwing a perfect game. That inning ended with a double play so in the end, Misiorowski faced only the minimum 27 batters. He struck out eight of the first nine batters and in the first inning specifically, his fastball averaged 104 mph. Yes, 104 mph. Just completely ridiculous. It only took him 52 total pitches to reach that point too. From there, the Brewers had opened up a big lead and he was more shooting for outs rather than strikeouts, but this was still as dominant a start as we’ve seen from any pitcher in quite some time. Possibly most impressively, he mostly just leaned on that fastball. He threw it 73 percent of the time, it averaged 102 mph, and it forced 23 of his 25 total swings-and-misses. The final five he threw were all at least 103 mph and it looked like he had a few more scoreless innings in him if the game called for it. He didn’t have a single three-ball count. There were only five two-ball counts. It was the most strikeouts ever in a complete game with under 100 pitches, which is commonly known as a ‘Maddux’. He also threw the hardest pitch every recorded by a starting pitcher at 104.5 mph. It’s becoming difficult not to call him the best pitcher in baseball at this point with that kind of velocity, drastically improved command, a 1.34 ERA, and a 131 to 22 strikeout to walk ratio across 96 innings this season. Misiorowski is scheduled to send the Guardians to the buzzsaw next.

Misiorowski stranded two baserunners through four scoreless innings before the Rockies got a run across on an error and a hit in the fifth. He settled in for two more scoreless frames, completing seven innings for the fourth time in his last five starts. He scattered four hits and three walks while collecting eight strikeouts. The 24-year-old right-hander will take a 1.50 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 116/22 K/BB ratio across 78 innings into a start against the Phillies in Milwaukee on Friday.

The Astros loaded the bases in the third, but that was really their only threat today. They totaled one baserunner over the other eight innings of the game. Misiorowski finishes off his ridiculous May at 5-0 with a 0.23 ERA and a 57/6 K/BB in 38 1/3 innings. It’s one of the best months from any pitcher this century, yet it probably won’t win NL Pitcher of the Month because Cristopher Sánchez went without allowing a run. Misiorowski will pitch at Coors Field next time out, but that really shouldn’t scare anyone besides the Rockies.

Misiorowski won’t get his scoreless month as a result of two singles and an RBI groundout in the sixth today. He had a no-hitter before that and was up to 29 1/3 scoreless innings in May. Overall, he’s allowed 11 hits, walked six and struck out 49 in 31 1/3 innings this month. Misiorowski averaged 101.1 mph with his 73 fastballs today and hit 100 on the gun 57 times. He’s now 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA, if he can stay healthy, the Brewers should have a real shot in October this time around. He’ll face the Astros this weekend.

Misiorowski threw just 74 pitches tonight. According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, he indicated prior to the sixth that he had just one inning left in him on a night in which he had some difficulty with the pitching mound. It doesn’t sound like anything is wrong beyond that, though. Misiorowski allowed three hits and walked one. He leads the majors with 88 strikeouts and is sixth with a 1.89 ERA through 10 starts. He’ll get the Cardinals next.

There are no words for this guy. His fastball averaged 100.6 mph in this start – yes, averaged – and forced a whopping 13 swings-and-misses. Specifically in the first innings, he threw 16 of them and they averaged 102.0 mph. Even to close out his start he threw fastballs at 102.0, 101.9, and 103.2 mph on his final three pitches to punch out Nick Castellanos and finish off another gem. It’s a marvel anyone can even put their bat on the ball against him when he’s clicking like this. That being said, the Padres barely did as Misiorowski retired the final 14 batters he faced. Also, it’s important to note that he left this game after warming up ahead of the eighth inning with quad cramps. The injury didn’t seem serious, as Misiorowski chuckled a bit as manager Pat Murphy came to yank him before the inning formally began. Regardless, it’s now been three consecutive starts since the last time he allowed an earned run and sports 2.12 ERA on the season to go along with 80 strikeouts and 17 walks across 51 innings. This is an ace to the highest degree and is set for a huge two-start week coming up against the Cubs and Dodgers. Get your popcorn ready for those two games.