Jacob Misiorowski kicked off the 2026 World Series with a fastball that absolutely screamed into the catcher’s mitt at 103.5 miles per hour. That four-seamer, sent to Yandy Diaz for a ball, still set an insane tone for Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at American Family Field. This wasn’t just heat, though. Misiorowski finally delivered his longest postseason start yet, holding the Rays to just one run on four hits and a walk over five innings, striking out three in the process.
The Fastball Was Unhinged (Literally)
Let’s be real, the guy’s arm is a cannon. Misiorowski fired 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster out of his 78 total pitches. His four-seamer averaged a blistering 101.2 mph, with ten of them hitting at least 102 mph. And get this: none were faster than that jaw-dropping 103.5 mph opener, according to StatCast. For the 6-foot-7 right-hander, velocity has never been the question. The dude went 16-5 this season, leading the majors in ERA at a ridiculous 1.80 and punching out 252 batters. He threw his fastball harder on average than any other starter in the league. It’s just a different kind of power.
Finally Going Deep When It Matters Most
The real October question for Misiorowski wasn’t about his speed, but about how long he could stay on the mound. Remember his first two postseason starts? High pitch counts kept him from going five innings. He tossed 88 pitches over four frames in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Then he needed 94 pitches for 4 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, which the Brewers went on to sweep against the Dodgers.
But Friday night? Different story. Misiorowski was far more efficient, finally getting through five innings, which tied his longest postseason start. He had done it once before, in a relief appearance in Game 3 of the 2025 NLCS at Dodger Stadium, where he pitched five innings and struck out nine. This time, he mixed his devastating four-seam fastball with a cutter, slider, and an occasional curveball to navigate the Rays lineup.
Tampa Bay tried to get to him early. Jonathan Aranda lined a single on a 101.3 mph fastball, and Chandler Simpson slapped another single to left. But Misiorowski kept his cool, and Junior Caminero promptly lined into a double play to shut down the threat. He then retired seven consecutive Rays hitters. Tampa Bay finally broke through in the fourth inning. Aranda drew a walk, Caminero turned on a 101 mph fastball for a double, and Liam Hicks brought in the Rays’ first run with a groundout. Still, for Misiorowski, getting through five was a massive win for the Brewers in this World Series opener.
Misiorowski showed he can go deep and still throw absolute gas when it counts. That’s a huge step for the Brewers, and fans will be buzzing about what he does next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply