Chris Sale calls Misiorowski fastball best he's ever seen
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski outdueled Braves veteran Chris Sale 2-1 on Friday, August 21, 2026, throwing six shutout innings in their first head-to-head matchup. Afterward, 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale called Misiorowski's fastball "probably the most impressive" he has ever seen, cementing the 24-year-old's status as the NL Cy Young favorite.
Key Takeaways
- Misiorowski pitched six scoreless innings (four hits, two walks, six strikeouts) as Milwaukee beat Atlanta 2-1 in a sellout at American Family Field.
- Chris Sale allowed two runs over six innings but said Misiorowski is "in a league of his own" and owns the best fastball he has witnessed.
- Misiorowski lowered his MLB-best 1.68 ERA and extended his strikeout lead to 216, while Sale ranks second at a 2.20 ERA.
- On a relative "down day" for velocity, Misiorowski leaned on sliders and cutters rather than his usual fastball-heavy mix.
- The Brewers became the first 2026 team to 80 wins, with both clubs treating the duel like a playoff preview.
A weekday afternoon crowd of 40,130 packed Milwaukee's American Family Field for the 16th Brewers sellout of 2026. Two first-place teams and two Cy Young front-runners delivered a crisp two-hour, 21-minute pitcher's duel that felt bigger than a typical August matinee. For more on how data and velocity reshape modern competition, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage hub.
Why did Chris Sale call Misiorowski's fastball the best he's ever seen?
Sale's praise landed after Misiorowski held the Braves scoreless through six innings in a game Atlanta lost 2-1. The 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner told reporters Misiorowski seems "in a league of his own this year" and that his heater is "probably the most impressive fastball I've ever seen," according to ESPN.
The compliment carried extra weight because Misiorowski grew up watching Sale and still considers him a role model. The two had met at the past two All-Star Games before finally sharing a mound on Friday. "It's awesome to hear it from a guy like Sale," Misiorowski said. "Definitely a guy I looked up to — and still do."
How did Misiorowski beat Chris Sale on a "down day"?
By Misiorowski's extraordinary standards, Friday was not his sharpest fastball day. He topped out at 103.1 mph and exceeded 101.8 mph only once, yet still hit 100 mph on 32 of his 96 pitches, per CBS Sports. He called it "one of those days where it was just a down day" and said he had to grind.
Instead of his usual 64% four-seamer usage, Misiorowski mixed 56 fastballs with 23 sliders, 14 cutters, and three curves. Catcher William Contreras noted the slider was "great" and that Misiorowski can now throw breaking balls to lefties when the heater lacks its typical aggression. Braves manager Walt Weiss said hitters were "gearing up for 100, and then you're having to deal with cutters and sliders."
What did the duel mean for the Cy Young race and Milwaukee's season?
Misiorowski entered with a 1.68 ERA and 216 strikeouts — both MLB-leading marks — and kept both leads intact. Sale entered at 2.20 ERA, second in the majors, and has allowed three runs or fewer in an MLB-leading 20 consecutive starts. Even in victory, Misiorowski needed help: rookie Luis Lara robbed Matt Olson with a leaping catch in the sixth and later snared a 99.3 mph liner with the bases loaded in the eighth.
Atlanta scored its lone run in the eighth against the Milwaukee bullpen, but the day belonged to Misiorowski and the Brewers, who became the first team to 80 wins in 2026. With both clubs chasing postseason seeding, the afternoon felt like a possible prelude to a deeper October meeting — the kind of appointment viewing Misiorowski has become all season long.