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Where Jacob Misiorowski's NL Cy Young case stands ahead of matchup against top challenger

With history on the horizon, Miz's attention remains focused on the Brewers' ultimate goal.
Aug 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) during pregame warmup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images
Aug 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) during pregame warmup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Major League Baseball's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award has essentially become a competition for the top position player in each league. Sure, two-way star Shohei Ohtani won the NL MVP last year, and the AL MVP Award in 2021 and 2023 in large part due to his ability to pitch in addition to his head-turning numbers at the plate, but it has been since the 2014 season in the National League and the 2011 season in the American League that a true starting pitcher has won the MVP award. As a result, a stronger emphasis has been put on the Cy Young Awards in either league, knowing that, on some occasions, they may actually represent the most valuable player in each league now that the MVP award has skewed heavily towards position players.

Throughout the 57 seasons in which the Milwaukee Brewers' franchise has existed, which includes one season as the Seattle Pilots, just three players have won the Cy Young Award. The first was relief pitcher Rollie Fingers, who not only won the AL Cy Young Award during a 1981 season in which he posted a 1.04 ERA in 78 innings pitched, but also improbably won the AL MVP Award as well. Fingers' teammate, starting pitcher Pete Vuckovich, took home Cy Young Award the following season, after turning in a 3.34 ERA in 30 starts.

It then took the Brewers 39 seasons to grab another Cy Young Award, and in the time in between, Milwaukee switched from the American League to the National League. Therefore, when Corbin Burnes nabbed the Brewers' third Cy Young Award after his stellar 2021 season, it was technically the first NL Cy Young in franchise history. Burnes, who has since logged starts with the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks, turned in a MLB-leading 2.43 ERA in 28 starts during his 2021 Cy Young season.

Just half a decade after Burnes etched his name in the franchise record books, the Brewers have a starting pitcher who is threatening to become the fourth Cy Young Award winner in franchise history. 24-year-old flame-thrower Jacob Misiorowski is currently the odds-on favorite (-750) to win the 2026 NL Cy Young Award. Coincidentally, the Brewers' ace will face off against his biggest challenger, Atlanta Braves' ace Chris Sale (+850), in this afternoon's series opener with the AL East leaders. Let's take a closer look at Miz's Cy Young case before his marquee matchup with the veteran Sale later today.

Jacob Misiorowski remains the clear favorite for the 2026 NL Cy Young Award ahead of key matchup with top challenger Chris Sale

According to ESPN, the National League Cy Young Award race is essentially down to Misiorowski and Sale with just over one month remaining in the regular season. Philadelphia Phillies' southpaw Cristopher Sánchez is technically still in the running, but chances are it will either be Miz or Sale who adds some hardware to their trophy cases this fall. As things currently stand, it's the Brewers' flame-throwing right-hander who holds the clear advantage over the Braves' veteran.

Entering his start against the Braves this afternoon, Miz leads all qualified starters in the National League (and all of MLB) in ERA (1.75), strikeouts (210), WHIP (0.75), and opponent batting average (.151). He also bests Sale when it comes to innings pitched (139.0 vs. 129.0), but Sale holds a slight advantage in regard to walks and home runs allowed. Regardless, Misiorowski has clearly been the more dominant and more effective starter throughout the 2026 season.

It will take a lot for the 37-year-old Sale to usurp Misiorowski in the NL Cy Young Award race and take home his second such award in the last three years. That said, crazier things have happened over the final month of the season. Misiorowski remains laser-focused on goals much larger than his individual success, which bodes well for his production over the final month of the season, but tonight's matchup against Sale will nevertheless be a good test for Milwaukee's young ace.

If the Brewers want to reach their ultimate goal this October, Miz will have to outpitch several starters of Sale's caliber, making this evening's matchup a perfect litmus test for Milwaukee's postseason strategy. With a number of marquee matchups hopefully on the horizon, Miz's face-off against his biggest challenger for the NL Cy Young Award tonight is just what he needs as he prepares for a pivotal postseason push.

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