Jacob Misiorowski Fans Ohtani, Freeman in Brewers' 4-1 Victory Over Dodgers

Jacob Misiorowski lowered his ERA to 1.75 after striking out Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman during a bases-loaded jam in Milwaukee's 4-1 win.

Jacob Misiorowski improved his record to 12-5 on Saturday as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 at Dodger Stadium. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed just one run on five hits across six innings of work, lowering his season ERA to 1.75. This performance marked Misiorowski’s 13th start this season in which he surrendered one or zero runs. The Brewers secured a series victory by winning two of the first three games in the four-game set between National League division leaders, ensuring they leave Los Angeles with a superior record to the Dodgers.

During the fifth inning, Misiorowski navigated a bases-loaded threat with one out after the bottom of the Los Angeles order recorded three consecutive singles. Facing Shohei Ohtani, catcher William Contreras called for a three-pitch sequence consisting of a curveball, a 102.4 mph fastball, and a slider to record the strikeout. Misiorowski then ended the frame by striking out Freddie Freeman on five pitches, concluding the at-bat with another slider. The Brewers starter utilized this expanded arsenal to escape the jam unscathed despite Ohtani having previously driven in the only Dodgers run with a third-inning triple that bounced over first baseman Gary Sánchez.

Dominating the Dodgers Superstars

Misiorowski’s encounter with Ohtani in the fifth inning contrasted with their first meeting of the game. To lead off the contest, the pitcher threw six consecutive fastballs, all exceeding 102 mph, to retire Ohtani on a popup. Manager Pat Murphy noted that the pitcher is developing a better understanding of how his breaking stuff moves, rather than relying solely on his high-velocity heater. The pitcher credited Contreras for readjusting the strategy mid-game to focus on sliders low in the zone to generate swings and misses from the Dodgers' left-handed sluggers.

In the third inning, Ohtani’s RBI triple came on a choppy ground ball into the right-field corner. Murphy described the play as Ohtani hitting the ball into the ground rather than a mistake by his pitcher. Misiorowski’s ability to execute pitches in high-leverage moments moved his season stats to a point where he has now allowed one or fewer runs in over a dozen starts during the 2026 campaign. The Brewers manager emphasized that the performance proved the young pitcher has evolved beyond being just a power arm.

Postseason Rematch and Mental Readiness

The Saturday afternoon matchup served as a rematch of last October’s National League Championship Series. In Game 3 of that series, Misiorowski took a loss in a 3-1 defeat after giving up one run in five innings. The Dodgers eventually swept that series and won their second consecutive World Series title. Misiorowski stated that the experience of pitching in the postseason provided him with increased confidence for the current season, describing the playoff atmosphere as a different animal compared to regular-season play.

As Milwaukee and Los Angeles jockey for home-field advantage, the outcome of this four-game series carries significant weight for the fall standings. Murphy praised Misiorowski’s mental readiness for national TV audiences and high-stakes environments. The Brewers’ victory on August 15, 2026, was finalized at 12:38 AM ET on Sunday. The team continues to rely on Misiorowski as a burgeoning ace capable of rising to the occasion against the league's most potent offenses.