MILWAUKEE — Major League Baseball fans can anticipate an exciting pitching duel on Wednesday as Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes faces Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski for the first time. The matchup promises to highlight two of the league’s hardest throwers, though they bring different levels of experience to the mound.
Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has proved to be a formidable pitcher. He notably didn’t allow a hit during his last outing in Milwaukee and has been dominant against the Brewers previously, striking out 19 batters while permitting only four hits and one run over 13 innings. His impressive career stats include a 1.91 ERA and 276 strikeouts across 235 innings pitched.
On the other hand, Misiorowski, in just his third major league start, has shown promising potential. He has allowed only one hit in 11 innings during his first two games and consistently throws at an average velocity of 99.7 mph with his four-seam fastball, which is slightly behind Skenes’ remarkable average of 98.1 mph. Brewers manager Pat Murphy, while acknowledging Misiorowski’s talent, emphasized it is premature to draw comparisons to Skenes, given the latter’s higher level of achievement.
The statistics heighten expectations for this matchup. According to Sportradar, their combined fastball velocity will likely be among the highest recorded in games where two starters faced each other since 2009, joining historic matchups such as Jacob deGrom and Spencer Strider in 2022.
Teammates and coaches alike express excitement for the game, seeing it as a fantastic opportunity for Misiorowski to prove himself against one of the best pitchers in the league. Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff noted the evolution of the game, emphasizing the thrilling aspect of watching young talents throw at speeds once considered extraordinary.
Both pitchers have exciting backstories that intertwine, as Misiorowski almost joined Skenes at LSU before embarking on a professional career. The impending matchup is highly anticipated not only for the pitching prowess displayed but for the tailored narratives surrounding both young athletes.
In an era where hard-throwing pitchers are becoming the norm, this game could serve as a showcase for the future of baseball and the talent that will shape the leagues in years to come.