Milwaukee Brewers fans have plenty to chew on after Jacob Misiorowski’s latest start, because the warning signs that had been building for weeks finally showed up in a loud way on Wednesday night.
A month ago, the velocity on Misiorowski’s fastball had already started to dip. The pitch mix changed with it, too, as he began leaning on his second and third pitches more than he ever had before in his career.
At the time, the right-hander was still stacking wins, with three straight victories coming against very strong lineups. But the trend line was heading in one direction, and it kept going that way in his next two outings.
Then came the night at Wrigley Field, where Misiorowski was batted around for the first time all season.
Misiorowski pointed to the weather when explaining what went wrong. The conditions at Wrigley were miserable, and he said the dampness made it hard to grip the ball.
“I didn’t feel wonderful, didn’t feel great,” Misiorowski said. “Obviously it felt soggy the whole time.
The weather played a factor in that, so I lost grip. I had to make it work.”
He also had issues with the mound, something that has been part of the challenge for the 6-foot-7 hardballer throughout his career. On the wet clay, that problem got worse with his landing leg.
“You start second-guessing everything,” Misiorowski said. “You start trying to make pitches too big and start trying to make things too spot-on. You have to calm yourself down and figure out a way to get through it.”
Even so, this wasn’t just one bad night in isolation. Misiorowski has had trouble in each of his last five outings, and that’s why the concern is starting to feel real.
At the same time, the baseline remains absurdly high. Even with the recent wobble, a struggling Misiorowski is still better than every other pitcher on Earth.
Still, the explanation here feels less like a one-off and more like a 24-year-old flamethrower running into the first real grind of a full Major League Baseball season.
In Other News...
Wisconsin May Need An Unexpected Answer Against Notre Dame Up Front
The first big question for Wisconsin this week is what the line will look like when it matters most against Notre Dame. The Badgers are already dealing with uncertainty around starting right guard Emerson Mandell and tackle Kevin Heywood, which puts extra attention on the next wave of players up front. In a game where the matchup in the trenches figures to shape everything, that kind of late-week uncertainty can quickly turn a familiar depth chart into a test of flexibility.
That is where a few less obvious names suddenly become worth watching. Blackmon, Cai Bates and Brock have been mentioned as players who could factor in if Wisconsin needs help on the offensive front, and the staffs view of them during fall camp has been consistently positive. Coaches have praised not just the way those players work, but the kind of character they bring, which matters even more when a game plan may need a quick adjustment before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Week 1 Prep Just Got More Complicated With Notre Dame
Notre Dames first injury report for its Week 1 matchup with Wisconsin immediately added another layer to an already interesting opener. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is listed as questionable while he continues recovering from an ACL injury, leaving the Badgers to prepare without knowing whether one of the Irishs most important front-seven pieces will be available.
The report also ruled out several other players, including wide receiver Quincy Porter and offensive linemen Matty Augustine and Charles Jagusah, which only adds to the uncertainty on Notre Dames side. For Wisconsin, that means the opening-game prep now comes with a little more guesswork than usual, especially with both teams still sorting out exactly who will be ready when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads Into Notre Dame With Key Lineup Questions Up Front
The lead-up to Wisconsins Week 1 trip to Notre Dame has been marked by a familiar sort of preseason uncertainty up front, with the Badgers still sorting through their offensive line health as game week closes in. Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell are both questionable, and Mandell appears headed for a game-time decision, leaving the staff to weigh how much continuity it can count on when the matchup gets real.
Jaylon Domingeaux is also listed as questionable, adding another layer to an offense that could already be leaning on some early-season adjustments. For a Wisconsin team trying to get settled against a high-profile opponent right out of the gate, the availability of a few key pieces may end up shaping not just the starting lineup, but the way the Badgers manage their entire receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]