Brewers rookie pitcher looks like a problem as Cubs' NL Central race heats up

While the Chicago Cubs are expected to go searching for some starting pitching help at this year’s trade deadline, it looks like the Milwaukee Brewers have a young hurler who could be better than anything available on July 31. As if routinely going against Paul Skenes on the Pittsburgh Pirates wasn’t bad enough, meet Jacob Misiorowski, who didn’t allow a hit in his major league debut.

Misiorowski has a rare combination of a dominating fastball with off-speed pitches that can sometimes be just as unhittable. If the Cubs want to know just how hard it is to hit him, they need only ask the division rival St. Louis Cardinals, who not only couldn’t manage a hit, but struck out five times and whiffed 13 times in the rookie’s five-inning debut.

Jacob Misiorowski’s 102-mph arsenal gives Brewers a homegrown weapon the Cubs must solve fast

Misiorowski didn’t last longer in his first-ever major league start because he suffered an injury that almost certainly had Brewers fans gasping in fear at the time. However, Friday morning reports indicate that his rolled ankle and exit because of it was more about cramping than anything long-term.

"Good," is how Misiorowski described his physical condition. "Cramped up. My ankle, I just rolled it. All good. Nothing crazy."

That means “The Miz,” as he’s known in Milwaukee, will almost certainly make his next start in the rotation, which means he will be a problem for the Chicago Cubs as the season goes on.

Before being called up, the young pitcher dominated at the Triple-A level. In 12 starts for Nashville, he posted a 4-2 record and a 2.13 ERA, and, most importantly, struck out 80 batters in just 63.1 innings.

It’s not hard to understand why he racks up so many strikeouts. Against the Cardinals on Thursday, he routinely hit 100 mph on his fastball, topping out at an astounding 102 mph. He also has impressive stamina, as he threw his final pitch at 101.1 mph in the fifth inning.

The NL Central pennant race is starting to heat up, and while it’s still not clear who might be the Cubs’ top competitor for the crown, it sure feels like the Brewers will eventually put the Reds and Cardinals in the rearview mirror.

If and when that becomes the two-team race, the Brew Crew suddenly has a shiny new weapon to boost their pitching staff. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs’ young fireball-throwing starter is busy fighting to stay in the rotation.