Jacob Misiorowski and the Milwaukee Brewers open an unprecedented World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays
When the Milwaukee Brewers take the field for the opening game of the World Series, right-hander Jacob Misiorowski will bring a record-setting fastball to the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays in a Fall Classic matchup that guarantees one small-market franchise its first championship title, ici.radio-canada.ca reported.
Few observers predicted this pairing when the Major League Baseball season opened on March 25. This year’s championship series marks the first time since 1980 that two franchises seeking their first World Series title have squared off, a historical drought matched only by the 1920 Fall Classic. The matchup also introduces robot home plate umpires to baseball’s biggest stage and locks the entire series under a stadium roof.
The velocity behind the Brewers’ ace
Misiorowski enters the series following a regular season defined by high-heat dominance. The 24-year-old fired 1,115 pitches at 100 mph or faster this year, shattering the previous single-season tracking record of 673 set by Jordan Hicks in 2018 since MLB began advanced pitch tracking in 2008. His season high reached 105.5 mph against Chicago Cubs batter Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 27.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that opponents have begun adjusting to the young pitcher’s speed as the postseason progresses. Misiorowski failed to complete the fifth inning in either of his first two postseason starts, with hitters offering at 182 pitches and fouling off 51 of them—accounting for 28 percent of his total offerings and 54 percent of all swings.
Murphy told reporters on Thursday that hitters are actively hunting specific zones. He hasn’t been as sharp,
Murphy said during his media session. They’re targeting a certain area clearly. They’re trying to exploit any flaws. He’s exposed, like all these guys end up being at some point or another.
Reflecting on his rapid ascent to baseball’s ultimate stage, Misiorowski offered a lighthearted assessment to reporters. Forrest Gump, everybody,
Murphy joked while introducing his starting pitcher. Misiorowski followed moments later by admitting, I’m still new to this, and I have no idea what’s going on.
Low payroll clubs buck modern offensive trends
Both pennant winners reached this stage by bucking modern offensive trends and operating out of the lower half of Major League Baseball’s payroll rankings. As of August 31, the Brewers sat 19th in team payroll while the Rays ranked 25th, marking the first time since 1991 that both World Series participants emerged from the bottom half of league spending.
Data from the Elias Sports Bureau highlights how both clubs generate offense without relying heavily on home runs. The Brewers scored 32.1 percent of their runs via the long ball this season—the lowest percentage in the major leagues—while the Rays ranked second lowest at 34.4 percent. Tampa Bay hitters also struck out less than any other team in the 30-team circuit and dropped down 45 sacrifice bunts, the highest total for an American League club since 2015.
Misiorowski noted the refreshing shift away from a pure home-run approach. It’s cool to not have to be that team that hits 170 homers a game or whatever,
Misiorowski said. There’s so many different ways to win a baseball game.
The financial disparity between these contenders and recent champions is stark. The highest-paid player participating in this year’s series is Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, who ranked 44th in MLB salaries on Opening Day, followed by Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz at 154th. To earn their pennants, Milwaukee swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, while Tampa Bay swept the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
Historical echoes for Milwaukee and Tampa Bay
The Brewers return to the World Series for only the second time in 44 years, echoing the iconic jersey number worn by franchise legend Hank Aaron. Aaron starred for the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s and finished his career with the expansion Brewers in the 1970s. Milwaukee’s previous Fall Classic appearance ended in a defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.
The Rays enter their World Series appearance following previous losses to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Neither franchise has ever hoisted the championship trophy.
As Friday night approaches, the unknown variables center on how Tampa Bay’s disciplined contact hitters will handle Misiorowski’s triple-digit velocity under the stadium roof, and whether the Brewers’ bullpen can protect a rotation built on strategy rather than payroll dominance.
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