Jacob Misiorowski ready for Peralta duel in second half
Jacob Misiorowski is rested and ready to open the Brewers' second half Monday night at American Family Field, facing former teammate Freddy Peralta and the Mets. The MLB ERA leader returns after 13 days off and an arm-fatigue scratch, with Milwaukee managing his innings for a potential October run.
Key Takeaways
- Misiorowski opens the second half Monday versus Peralta and the Mets at American Family Field.
- It is his first start in 13 days after an arm-fatigue scratch from a July 12 outing in Pittsburgh.
- He leads MLB in ERA (1.62), strikeouts (167), ERA+ (260) and opponents' average (.148).
- Milwaukee swapped him into the series opener after originally listing Brandon Sproat opposite Peralta.
- The Brewers have a mapped second-half plan to keep him fresh for a possible October run.
Why does Jacob Misiorowski's return matter now?
Per MLB.com, Misiorowski last pitched July 7 in St. Louis, striking out 11 over seven innings in a Game 1 doubleheader win. He was lined up for Pittsburgh on July 12, but Milwaukee scratched the 24-year-old, citing arm fatigue after a heavy first-half workload and record-setting velocity.
That pause matters because he already sits at 111 regular-season innings, roughly 20 shy of last year's combined Minors, Majors and postseason total. For more market-moving sports and finance briefs, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts desk.
How did the Brewers reshape the Mets series?
Published probables had Brandon Sproat starting opposite Peralta on Monday. On Sunday, Milwaukee announced Misiorowski would start Monday and Sproat would go Tuesday. Misiorowski said that sequence is how he had it mapped all along.
The matchup also carries trade drama. Milwaukee dealt Peralta to New York last winter for Sproat and infield prospect Jett Williams with one year left on Peralta's deal. Sproat versus Peralta would have been poetic; Miz versus Freddy is the headliner now.
What did Misiorowski say about facing Peralta?
"That will be fun," Misiorowski said. "I want the best for Freddy. He's an awesome guy. I love Freddy. But he's on the other team, so you've got to kick his [butt]. That's my job."
Peralta went 70-42 with a 3.69 ERA over eight Brewers seasons. This year he is 5-8 with a 4.88 ERA through 20 starts, his highest mark since a 5.29 ERA mostly as a 2019 reliever, while the Mets sit last in the NL East.
"My favorite thing about Freddy was how kind and caring he was about everyone," Misiorowski added. "It didn't matter if you were a guy who showed up yesterday, he was still going to be your friend."
Is Jacob Misiorowski truly ready after the All-Star break?
He threw one baseball during All-Star festivities in Philadelphia — a short toss to a fan — then played catch Wednesday and Thursday in Milwaukee and threw a bullpen Saturday. "I feel normal. I feel good," he said. "The rest was 100 percent good. I feel ready."
Experience from pitching in last year's All-Star Game as a rookie helped him treat this week as a mental reset even without appearing in the game. Looking ahead, he said Milwaukee's second-half plan is "pretty mapped out," with possible day-to-day bumps, and added, "We'll be ready."