Jacob Misiorowski is set for his first career start at Coors Field, and the matchup brings one of baseball’s most difficult environments into focus. The Brewers right-hander heads into Colorado after a dominant stretch and with confidence that his power arsenal can travel well to the mile-high ballpark.
Milwaukee’s series also puts three probable starters in the same test for the first time, with Brandon Sproat and Shane Drohan joining Misiorowski in facing Coors Field’s altitude and wide gaps in the outfield. For Brewers fans, the games are available free on Brewers.TV with an MLB.com account and no credit card required.
Misiorowski’s view of the altitude
Misiorowski downplayed the challenge, even as he acknowledged that the conditions could affect his breaking ball. “For me, altitude shouldn’t be a big factor in my game,” he said, adding that his curveball may lose some bite but should still be effective.
He also suggested that the thinner air could come with a tradeoff, saying the fastball velocity might even increase. That kind of confidence fits a pitcher who leans more on elite velocity and extension than on heavy movement, a profile that can play well at Coors Field if the command holds.
Why his stuff stands out there
On paper, Misiorowski looks like a strong fit for the park because his fastball can already reach 103 mph and his extension makes the pitch appear even quicker to hitters. Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff said Misiorowski “doesn’t know how good he’s got it,” a nod to the kind of raw stuff that can still miss bats in a hitter-friendly setting.
Still, Coors Field has a history of changing outcomes even for power pitchers. Woodruff pointed to his own mixed track record there, including strong outings and difficult ones, as a reminder that the ballpark can punish even well-executed plans.
A ballpark that tests more than velocity
The Brewers know the challenge is not limited to one stop on the trip. After Colorado, they are scheduled to play three games in Las Vegas against the A’s at the club’s Triple-A home, another park known for helping hitters.
Milwaukee pitching coordinator Jim Henderson urged the group not to overthink the setting, saying the approach should be simple execution and resilience. “Just go execute the crap out of it and know stuff may happen,” Henderson said.
Misiorowski arrives in form
The Coors Field debut comes after a May that ranked among the best of Misiorowski’s young career. He went 5-0 with a 0.23 ERA and set a Brewers franchise record for a single month with 57 strikeouts, allowing only one run across six starts.
Even without winning NL Pitcher of the Month honors, Misiorowski handled the outcome calmly and credited Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez for an excellent month. “Obviously, I want to win, but it’s not like I’m mad about it,” Misiorowski said.
His response also reflected a wider competitive edge that has helped drive Milwaukee’s pitching success. The Brewers entered Thursday with MLB’s second-best team ERA at 3.11, third-best average against at .217, and third-best WHIP at 1.18.
A test with familiar undertones
There is also a small layer of history in the background, since some Phillies fans were unhappy when MLB invited Misiorowski to last year’s All-Star Game after only five career starts. Misiorowski smiled when asked about that reaction and joked, “I haven’t been liked in that clubhouse,” suggesting some people in Philadelphia may be pleased by Sánchez’s recent recognition.
For now, though, the focus stays on Coors Field and how Misiorowski’s power profile translates in his first start there. Milwaukee will find out quickly whether his velocity, extension and poise can carry over in one of the game’s most unpredictable pitching environments.
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