MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski to slow down the surging San Diego Padres on Saturday in the opener of the National League Division Series.
Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA), considered the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, will be opposed by veteran left-hander Robbie Ray (13-8, 3.59 ERA) to start the best-of-five matchup between the team with the best regular-season record and the hottest team down the stretch.
San Diego won 17 of its final 20 regular-season games and then swept the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round. The Padres also swept the Brewers in a three-game series in August, although they did not face Misiorowski.
“They’re playing so well and they’re super talented — a super talented, confident team right now with, we all know, the best bullpen in baseball, with some real megastars in the lineup,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “And they’re rolling. But that’s what you’re going to face at this time of year.”
The consistent Brewers, who won a franchise-record 103 games, were the first team in history to win 100 games in a season without a winning streak longer than five.
“We didn’t have the big streaks this year,” Murphy said. “I think that speaks even more to the group in there, how much they responded, how much they bounced back.”
Misiorowski, who routinely tops 100 mph with his fastball, had the lowest ERA in the majors and led the majors with 252 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .157 batting average, also best in the majors.
The 24-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three postseason appearances last season as a rookie.
Misiorowski faced the Padres for the first time in May, allowing four hits and fanning 10 over seven scoreless innings, but did not get a decision when San Diego rallied with three in the ninth for a 3-1 victory.
“He was a tough task that day. He’s going to be a tough task tomorrow also,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said Friday. “So, although it’s better when we’re feeling good, that doesn’t change once you get in the batter’s box and you’re facing a guy like him. It’s going to be tough.”
Milwaukee was last in the NL with 154 homers and next-to-last in the majors, only ahead of Toronto’s 152. But the Brewers had the largest run differential in the majors at plus-214 and tied for the highest team batting average at .258.
Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz, who has been hampered by abdomen and knee injuries, is expected to be available Saturday, Murphy said.
Ray was 3-2 with a 5.02 ERA in nine starts with the Padres after being acquired from San Francisco at the trade deadline.
“Just trust his veteran presence, experience pitching in the playoffs,” Stammen said. “I think he’s going to do well against this lineup. As far as how far he goes or how long, he’ll determine a lot of that, how well he pitches.”
Ray is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA in seven career starts against Milwaukee. Ray is 0-3 with a 7.43 ERA in six career postseason games, including two starts.
“I have to stick to my game plan and kind of be willing to adapt as well,” Ray said Friday. “I think especially with the hitters that they have, they’re really good at putting the ball in play. For me, it’s just relying on my defense and just pitching my best game.”
Mason Miller, who tied for the NL lead with 38 saves in 41 opportunities, along with one save in the wild-card series, anchors the bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander had a 1.67 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 70 innings.
–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media
