Jacob Misiorowski stood tall on the Dodger Stadium field Saturday night, arms crossed, delivering a clear message after powering the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Year after year, we’re right there with them. We’re competing. I think we’re a team to be reckoned with,” the Brewers’ ace said in a postgame interview with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
The words carried the weight of a warning shot across Major League Baseball. Misiorowski, the 24-year-old right-hander already established as a Cy Young Award frontrunner, made it plain that the Brewers intend to remain a force deep into October.
Milwaukee improved to 76-48 with the win, opening a two-game lead over the Dodgers (74-50) in the National League standings race while solidifying its grip on first place in the NL Central. The Brewers have spent much of the season near the top of the league, and Misiorowski’s performance only reinforced their status as legitimate contenders.
Misiorowski worked six strong innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out six and walking one. He improved to 12-5 with a sparkling 1.75 ERA. The fireballer has piled up 210 strikeouts in 139 innings this season, leading the majors and continuing a dominant stretch that has seen him allow one run or fewer in 13 starts.
Against a potent Dodgers lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, Misiorowski showcased more than his signature triple-digit fastball. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth by fanning both Ohtani and Freeman with sharp sliders, preserving a lead that Milwaukee never relinquished.
Joey Ortiz and William Contreras provided the offensive punch with two-run home runs. Ortiz’s blast in the second inning gave the Brewers an early edge, and Contreras went deep in the fourth to make it 4-1. The Milwaukee bullpen then shut the door, completing a statement win in a series between two of the NL’s strongest clubs.
Misiorowski’s comments echoed the Brewers’ recent history of punching above their perceived weight. Milwaukee has consistently challenged the league’s traditional powers, reaching the postseason in consecutive years and advancing deep into October. Last season’s run to the NLCS, including a memorable outing by Misiorowski against these same Dodgers, appears to have fueled the current campaign.
The pitcher has grown into the role of staff ace after a promising but uneven rookie year in 2025. This season he has refined his secondary pitches while maintaining elite velocity, often touching 103 mph. Opponents have struggled to solve the combination, as evidenced by his league-leading WHIP of 0.75.
Manager Pat Murphy’s club has thrived on pitching depth and timely hitting. The Brewers rank among the NL’s best in ERA and have shown resilience through the long summer. With roughly six weeks left in the regular season, Milwaukee sits in prime position for a division title and a high seed in the playoffs.
Misiorowski’s warning resonated beyond the Dodgers series.
Across the league, clubs eyeing October must now account for a Brewers team that refuses to fade. Year after year, as the pitcher noted, Milwaukee has stayed in the conversation. This season, with Misiorowski anchoring the rotation, that conversation has grown louder.
The tall right-hander from Missouri has become a face of the franchise, drawing comparisons to past Brewers standouts while carving his own path. His poise in high-leverage moments, combined with pure stuff, has elevated the entire roster.
Saturday’s result marked the latest chapter. Misiorowski exited after six innings with the lead intact, and the bullpen closed it out. The clubhouse, he said, is fired up. For the rest of baseball, the message was unmistakable: the Brewers are not going away.
As the season heads into its final stretch, Misiorowski and Milwaukee will keep competing. Their record, their ace’s dominance, and their stated belief in themselves all point to a team prepared to make noise when it matters most.
The warning has been issued. The rest of the league has been put on notice.
