​Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers were both named to the National League All-Star team, but they could not participate in the July 14 game for a legitimate reason: they were slated to face each other in the final tune-up before the All-Star break, in a pivotal National League Central matchup on July 12. However, the Brewers revealed on July 11 that Misiorowski would not oppose Skenes because “he needs some time away from throwing,” according to manager Pat Murphy. Misiorowski also would not pitch in the All-Star Game, giving him more than a week between starts.
Misiorowski, 24, has been one of the breakout stars of the season’s first half. Yet Murphy indicated the right-hander “just didn’t recover well” from his most recent outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 7. “Fatigue would be the best word,” Misiorowski admitted. “Nothing crazy. Just didn’t bounce back. A little quick on the days off between but nothing crazy.” In that start, he worked seven innings, allowing three runs while recording 11 strikeouts. The win improved his record to 10-4, and his ERA rose to 1.62, still the best in MLB.
“His arm doesn’t feel great,” Murphy said. “His body doesn’t feel great. There’s no imaging or anything like that going on; we’re just giving him a rest and he needs some time away from throwing. He’s had a heavy workload, and we’re making the decision to give him a break. Because his throwing routine today was a little clunky, and we didn’t like what we saw, we’re going to hold him out.”
Misiorowski regularly reaches elite velocity, averaging 100.5 mph with his four-seam fastball, a pitch that is as impressive as it is risky from an injury perspective. Very few pitchers, either starters or relievers, can match the sheer speed he brings to the mound. His rare combination of velocity and command has made him an early favorite in the NL Cy Young Award futures conversation. Still, the Brewers are wisely cautious with their rising star as they chase a long postseason run and the possibility of a franchise-first World Series, keeping him healthy for the postseason’s grind.
Across 18 starts spanning 111 innings, Misiorowski has logged 167 strikeouts against just 27 walks, underscoring a dominant season. The decision to pause his throwing schedule reflects a broader strategy to preserve his health and maintain peak performance for the pennant race and postseason push. The Brewers’ management and coaching staff recognize the value of managing workload early in the season to sustain elite performance deeper into the year.
In the meantime, Skenes’ presence on the All-Star roster remains a testament to his strong first half and potential to anchor Pittsburgh’s rotation as the team navigates a challenging section of the schedule. Both teams will monitor Misiorowski’s recovery and return to the mound with caution, balancing immediate competitive needs with long-term ambitions for a rewarding postseason run and, for Brewers fans, the dream of ending their World Series drought.