MILWAUKEE – True to form, the Rays are getting creative, but thanks to Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers don’t have to.
The presumptive winner of the 2026 National League Cy Young Award will start Game 1 of the World Series Friday (7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), and he sounded confident about pitching on 11 days’ rest against the American League champions.
After serviceable but underwhelming starts in his first two post-season appearances of the year, he plans on using a similar game plan built around a fastball that sits around 100 m.p.h. and touches 105.
“I don't think there's much at all that needs to change,” Misiorowski said from World Series media day. “Obviously the Padres and Dodgers both had a good approach of just fouling stuff off. I bet Tampa Bay is going to do pretty much the same thing.
“So I think I've just got to stick to my strengths and pound the zone.”
During the regular season, that approach led the 24-year-old to a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 174.2 innings. Along the way, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw 1,000 or more pitches at 100 m.p.h. in a single season. Yet more modest results in the post-season create the slightest of openings for a talented Rays lineup in Game 1 Friday night in support of Nick Martinez.
When he’s on, his teammates describe Misiorowski as a dominant pitcher unlike anyone they’ve played with.
“The entire year was tremendous for him,” said Jackson Chourio.
“When you can sit 100 as a starter and throw 100 pitches, it's just different,” added Dustin May. “It doesn't happen ever.”
Infielder Andrew Vaughn said playing behind Misiorowski can be boring because he misses so many bats. But a day in Los Angeles this August reminded Vaughn that he has to stay ready no matter what. Since he was anticipating strikeouts, he was surprised when the Dodgers kept fouling balls his way.
“I was like, man, dude, strike these guys out,” Vaughn said with a smile. “Come on.”
Fellow right-hander Chad Patrick said Misiorowski can navigate tough situations better than others because his stuff is so overwhelming.
“I mean, I wish I could throw that hard,” Patrick said. “He's got it all, man. When he's on, he's on. Even when he's off, you don't even know because he's always got the fastball.”
But despite Misiorowski’s regular season dominance, he allowed two runs over four innings against the Padres in the NLDS before allowing eight baserunners over 4.1 innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS. Misiorowski didn't complete five innings either time, though the Brewers ultimately won both games.
Speaking Thursday at American Family Field, Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that his ace “hasn’t been as crisp” lately.
“People are up there thinking it's going to be 104, and I think they're elated if it's anything less than that,” Murphy said. “They're obviously looking at an area. They're trying to exploit everything. He's exposed, like all these guys get at some point. So they're going to attack a certain way, and we're going to try to counter that attack.”
“It's all about Miz and his health and his mental state,” Murphy added.
If there’s a pathway through these struggles, it’s the fastball, a pitch that may be helped by the additional rest he’s had since facing the Dodgers October 11. Plus, Misiorowski’s teammates describe him as someone whose understanding of pitching continues to improve. If he can tap into that feel for the game, life will be harder for the Rays.
“He's got so much more room to grow,” said Logan Henderson. “Which is a really scary thing to think about because he's going to win the Cy Young this year.”
“It's electric,” added infielder Joey Ortiz. “And he's definitely learning how to pitch. Which, throwing 105 and learning how to pitch? He’s going to be hard to hit.”
Of course that’s not to overlook the Rays, as their Game 1 starter quietly had an all-star season of his own. Nick Martinez posted a 3.10 ERA in 180 innings this year, leading the American League with a walk rate of just 1.3 per nine innings.
Like so many others on the Rays roster, the 36-year-old has been overlooked and discarded only to resurface as a difference-making big-leaguer.
“It feels like his journey is a perfect illustration of the ups and downs of baseball,” said utility player Richie Palacios. “A lot of us – a lot more than other teams – have had crazy journeys. They've been told that they're not good enough. They've been told that they won't make it, all these things, and that's what we’ve bonded on.”
Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta would have been available for Games 1 and 2 but by starting Martinez in Game 1, the Rays ensure their top two starters get extra rest ahead of expected starts in Games 2 and 3. That schedule also lines up Rasmussen and Peralta for Games 6 and 7 should the series go that far.
In the meantime, the Rays like their chances with Martinez even if he doesn’t have the velocity or upside of Misiorowski.
“The moment doesn't really get too big for him,” explained Rays catcher Liam Hicks. “He's going to be pretty relaxed, pretty calm out there. He's like one of the leaders of his team, so he's a good guy to set the tone.”
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