Jacob Misiorowski all but confirms his own 2025 playoff fate

There's no denying the kind of electricity Jacob Misiorowski brings to the mound. Armed with a triple-digit fastball, a wipeout slider, and a changeup that sits north of 90 mph, he's got all the makings of an elite big league pitcher.

Where there is room for doubt is how, and where, Misiorowski will impact the Milwaukee Brewers this postseason. After (somewhat controversially) being named an All-Star in the first half, "The Miz" has not been the same since.

His second-half ERA sits at 5.45, and he's allowing a .754 OPS to opposing hitters. His strikeout rate is down, his WHIP is way up, and he's struggling to produce ground balls. Talented though he may be, it's clear he's laboring, perhaps a side effect of his tibia injury from August.

Thus, it's no surprise that rumors have swirled that The Miz will be pitching out the Brewers' bullpen once October rolls around.

Jacob Misiorowski could be valuable relief weapon for Brewers in playoffs

Manager Pat Murphy already confirmed that the team will be cautious with Misiorowski, citing the rookie's recent struggles and penchant for allowing walks as reasons why the team may not let him start in the playoffs.

That Misiorowski was then seen sitting in the Crew's bullpen multiple times during the San Diego Padres series only seemingly confirmed what Brewers fans have known: he's not going to be one of the rotation's four starters this postseason.

For what it's worth, he is still scheduled to take his start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds in the penultimate game of the regular season. However, his stuff will play up out of the bullpen, and he could be used more effectively to shorten games in brief spurts. In the playoffs, where the margins are practically zero, Misiorowski's tendencies to be wild and unreliable are far easier to mask in the bullpen than in the starting rotation.

While this turn of events may be disappointing for the rookie, it's not like this is without precedent. Plenty of the Brewers' best starters in recent history have undergone a similar procedure early in their careers.

Even with Brandon Woodruff and José Quintana possibly out, it's hard to favor the volatile Misiorowski over other options in the rotation. Freddy Peralta is the obvious game one starter, and Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick will likely follow him.

If both of those aforementioned veterans haven't fully recovered from their injuries, it is possible that Miz could get a turn in game four of a playoff series, though it would be with a very short leash attached. Perhaps he could serve as an effective opener for someone like Robert Gasser (or vice versa).

Regardless, expect to see plenty of the flamethrowing freshman in the playoffs. Just don't get your hopes up in anticipation of The Miz's first career postseason start.