The Yankees and Brewers meet again this weekend for the first time since their widely watched series that helped turn torpedo bats into a national talking point. New York swept Milwaukee in three games during that matchup, outscoring the Brewers 36-14 while hitting 14 home runs and piling up a string of memorable moments.
That earlier series drew heavy attention because of the bat style, but the focus now shifts to a different challenge: Milwaukee has to deal with a Yankees team that is still producing at a high rate. New York enters the series with an MLB-best 26-12 record, tied with the Braves and Cubs, and also leads the league with 61 home runs.
A different test for New York
The headline name for the opener is Jacob Misiorowski, who was still in Triple-A when the teams last met. The hard-throwing right-hander has quickly become one of the most difficult pitchers to face, posting a 2.84 ERA over his first seven starts.
His strikeout numbers stand out even more. Misiorowski has a 38.1% strikeout rate, the best among qualified starters in 2026, and he has punched out at least seven batters in six of his outings, including two games with double-digit strikeouts.
Misiorowski’s power has already stood out
His recent starts have only added to the buzz around him. On May 1 and April 25, Misiorowski threw 43 and 39 pitches at 100 mph or higher, respectively, numbers that rank among the most in a game in the pitch-tracking era that began in 2008.
Only Reds star Hunter Greene has logged more in that category, according to the reference material. Misiorowski also carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning against the Nationals in his last outing before leaving with a right hamstring cramp.
Pitching depth shapes the series
Friday’s opener, set for 7:40 p.m. ET, is only part of a series that brings several intriguing pitching matchups. The Brewers will also see breakout star Cam Schlittler against former top prospect Kyle Harrison on Saturday, with Harrison off to a strong start of his own.
Sunday is expected to bring another notable matchup when Carlos Rodón makes his season debut for the Yankees against Logan Henderson. That gives the series a different feel from last year’s power-heavy Yankees surge, with starting pitching now taking center stage in Milwaukee.
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