Brewers' ace Misiorowski leads team to title

Jacob Misiorowski pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship in franchise history. In Game 5 of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the left-hander allowed just two hits while the Brewers held a 4-0 lead for the majority of the contest. Although a calf cramp forced him to leave the game late in the sixth inning, the bullpen preserved the advantage to secure the series victory.

The performance capped a season in which Misiorowski emerged as the dominant force in baseball. He finished the regular season with a 1.80 earned run average and 252 strikeouts in 174 and two-thirds innings. Both figures led Major League Baseball. He also recorded the lowest hit rate and the best strikeout rate in the sport.

This statistical dominance represented a sharp increase in workload for the 24-year-old pitcher. In 2025, Misiorowski worked 141 and one-third innings across the minors, majors, and playoffs, a career high at the time. In 2026, his total reached 193 and two-thirds innings. The Brewers monitored his workload down the stretch to ensure he had enough stamina for the postseason.

Manager Pat Murphy noted that the team does not possess a deep roster of Hall of Famers, a comment that indirectly addressed the Los Angeles Dodgers star-studded lineup. Despite that roster construction, Misiorowski has established himself as the franchise's most decorated pitcher. He is under team control through 2031 and is expected to win the Cy Young Award for his performance this year.

Questions arose after Game 4 regarding whether Murphy should have used Misiorowski to close out the game in the bottom of the 12th inning. The manager opted to rest him, banking on the fact that the Brewers held a 3-0 series lead. That strategy allowed Misiorowski to enter Game 5 on regular rest, a factor that contributed to his effectiveness.

Misiorowski’s development from a rookie talent to a league-leading pitcher occurred over two seasons. He improved his strikeout rate, reduced his walk rate, and increased his efficiency. Early in the 2026 season, he was considered the must-see player in the sport, a status he maintained through the regular season despite the playoffs presenting different challenges.

In the postseason, Misiorowski did not match his regular season dominance in every start, with no outing exceeding five innings prior to the clincher. However, he performed at a high level when it mattered most. Only two pitchers have ever recorded a scoreless start of five or more innings with two or fewer hits in a potential World Series clincher: Misiorowski and Tom Glavine in 1995.

Following the final out, Misiorowski spoke to reporters on the field. He described the victory as awesome for the team and the city of Milwaukee. He noted that the method of victory was less important than the result itself, stating that he simply made it work.

The Brewers will now turn their attention to the offseason. Misiorowski remains the centerpiece of the pitching staff, with fans and analysts projecting he will continue to improve with increased durability. The team's next major scheduling milestone involves the start of the 2027 regular season.