Chris Sale has high praise for Jacob Misiorowski after their duel

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Braves' Chris Sale has high praise for Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski after their duel

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 9:06 AM ET

It was a battle of the aces on Friday night, as Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski took the mound against Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale.

But the clear-cut National League (NL) Cy Young favorite threw six scoreless innings in the a 2-1 victory over the Braves. Not only did Miz lower his ERA to 1.68 (MLB-leading), but he gained praise from the future Hall of Famer.

Following the game, Sale commented on his opponent's performance stating, "It seems like he's kind of in a league of his own this year. It's probably the most impressive fastball I've ever seen. We knew it was going to be tough sledding tonight."

Earning respect from Sale is huge for the 24-year-old who has been the most thrilling flamethrower this season. While Sale had a stellar performance, it wasn't as good as Miz's, who now owns a 13-5 record with an MLB-leading 39.8% strikeout rate.

Chris Sale on Miz: "It seems like he's kind of in a league of his own this year. It's probably the most impressive fastball I've ever seen. We knew it was going to be tough sledding tonight."
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 21, 2026

Analyzing Jacob Misiorowski's dominant fastball

It comes as no surprise that the Braves veteran was mesmerized by Misiorowski's top-tier velocity, impeccable extension and overall dominance on the mound. The Brewers ace is known for consistently averaging over 100 mph and topping at 106 mph with his fastball.

Misiorowski's elite release extension ranks in the 99th percentile at 7.6 feet, and it has allowed him to sustain triple-digit velocity. Since it reduces the distance from the plate, it effectively impacts hitters' reaction time, making the pitch practically unhittable.

As Sale mentioned, the Miz is in a "league of his own" and should undeniably be crowned the 2026 fastball velocity king. On Aug. 9, he became the first pitcher in the majors to reach 200 strikeouts this season, and his electric fastball has added to his dominant campaign. He has continued to defy physics and reframing what is considered elite.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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