Jacob Misiorowski puts on record-breaking show in first-ever postseason appearance

Jacob Misiorowski got into his first career playoff contest in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, and the All-Star rookie did not disappoint.

Coming on in relief of opener Aaron Ashby (and Nick Mears), The Miz hurled three scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just three baserunners. As expected, his fastball velocity played up out of the bullpen, completely flummoxing the Cubs' lineup. However, he didn't just shut down Chicago's hitters; Misiorowski also set a new MLB record for the most 100+ mph pitches thrown in a single postseason outing, as reported by MLB.com statistician Sarah Langs.

That record is going to be a tough one to beat—relievers who throw that hard rarely get the chance to even throw that many pitches, and practically no other starting pitcher can routinely exceed triple digits like Misiorowski can.

Now with a commanding 2-0 lead in the NLDS, the Brewers head to Chicago knowing they have a distinct mental advantage over their division rival.

Jacob Misiorowski's dominance gives Brewers ultimate playoff weapon

It certainly wasn't a perfect outing for Misiorowski -- he walked two hitters and threw just 32 of his 57 pitches (56.1%) for strikes -- but in the role he filled, he's a perfect fit for the Crew's bullpen this October.

Seeing the order just one time through is exactly what Pat Murphy should hold Miz to this postseason. Not only did hitters get much better when facing Misiorowski multiple times in the regular season, but his velocity isn't as effective as the strain on his arm increases with a larger workload.

Opponent OPS vs Misiorowski:
1st time through order: .607
2nd time through order: .675
3rd time through order: .919

Seeing him deployed so successfully in this manner makes it a wonder how anyone would have questioned his place on this roster (who on earth would do something like that?).

Having the rookie available as a pseudo-long-reliever is an important development for the championship hopes of this team, seeing as Brandon Woodruff's status remains shrouded in mystery. Freddy Peralta remains the clear-cut ace of the staff, but the trio of José Quintana, Quinn Priester, and Chad Patrick behind him doesn't strike nearly as much fear into the hearts of opposing lineups.

If the team can deploy this Aaron Ashby-Jacob Misiorowski tandem to great effect, it effectively gives them another starting option to use, and one that employs elite velocity throughout the entire game.

It's also important to note that Misiorowski was trusted in a high-leverage spot; Game 2 was tied up 3-3 when he entered the game in the third inning. There's clearly a lot of faith in the flamethrowing rookie, which could mean that Misiorowski could break his own brand-new record before the playoffs are over.