Misiorowski eyes a sixth straight feel-good start against Chase Burns and the Reds

Jacob Misiorowski and Chase Burns, two of baseball’s most prominent young pitching prospects, will face each other for the first time in the majors when the Brewers host Cincinnati at American Family Field on Thursday.

By The Apex Times Newsroom4 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Brewers will get a rare front-row seat to the next generation of elite starting pitching when Jacob Misiorowski takes the mound against Chase Burns for the first time in Major League Baseball. The matchup is scheduled for Thursday at American Family Field, and it carries an added layer of storybook timing: the clubs once planned to stage the same kind of prospect faceoff, but it never developed as expected in spring action. Misiorowski, 24, enters the start as Milwaukee’s leading representative of its young rotation. According to MLB, he is carrying MLB-leading marks in multiple core pitching categories, including a 1.45 ERA, 146 strikeouts, a 0.77 WHIP, and a.144 average against. He has also been trending in a more electrifying direction recently. MLB reported that in his most recent outing he touched 105.5 mph, breaking his own record for a starting pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008. That kind of velocity, especially from the starter role, is not just a stat line curiosity. It helps explain why hitters have struggled to make consistent, hard contact against him. The development path also matters for how the Brewers view this season. Misiorowski was once on the “budding ace” track, but he is now producing ace-level results over real stretches against top-level lineups. In that context, his approach heading into Thursday was framed as straightforward. MLB quoted Misiorowski describing the experience as matching up against a pitcher of Burns’ caliber and saying it still feels special even as prospects turn into proven major leaguers. For Cincinnati, Burns arrives as the mirror image of the same theme, a 23-year-old starter whose early-season profile has blended dominance with durability. MLB reported that Burns comes in 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA through 16 starts. That body of work followed a run in which he went 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA across 12 starts. The streak ended in his latest appearance, which MLB said included five runs allowed on a season-high nine hits against the Pirates. That recent wobble does not change the larger picture. Even with the setback, Burns’ overall résumé to date has positioned him as a centerpiece starter for the Reds. The matchup against Misiorowski therefore tests two different versions of the same question, what happens when two young right-handers with top-end outcomes meet at the major-league level. It is also a stylistic contrast worth watching. Misiorowski’s form has been tied to both his run prevention and his ability to miss bats, while Burns’ results have reflected the ability to turn good starts into wins even when opponents manage to scratch at him. The backdrop to this game includes a near miss from the past. MLB reported that Misiorowski and Burns were originally set to start opposite each other in a spring prospect showcase in March 2025 between the Brewers and Reds, but Cincinnati made a change and Burns did not pitch that day. Misiorowski did pitch, yet the day ended up as a forgettable start for him. Thursday, by comparison, sets the stage for the version of that “almost” moment that both franchises have been chasing ever since their young arms turned into major-league answers. What to watch next is simple but meaningful. For the Brewers, they will want to see whether Misiorowski’s recent velocity bump and command translate into another high-quality start, especially against a lineup built around patience and power against right-handers. For the Reds, the key is whether Burns can rebound from the last start and keep Cincinnati’s pitching plan from turning into a bullpen sprint. The first time these two go pitch-for-pitch will not decide the season alone, but it will offer a vivid snapshot of where baseball’s future currently stands.

keyFacts":[

Thursday’s game at American Family Field features Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski vs. Reds starter Chase Burns for their first MLB matchup.

Misiorowski, 24, enters with a 1.45 ERA, 146 strikeouts, a 0.77 WHIP, and a.144 batting average against, according to MLB.

MLB reported Misiorowski touched 105.5 mph in his most recent start, breaking his own starting-pitcher record since pitch tracking began in 2008.

Burns, 23, enters with a 9-1 record and a 2.36 ERA through 16 starts, per MLB.

MLB said Burns previously stretched from going 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA over 12 starts before allowing five runs on nine hits in his last outing against the Pirates.

The teams’ earlier prospect-plan overlap occurred in March 2025 when Burns did not pitch in a showcase that was initially intended to feature the same kind of matchup.

Why It Matters

A marquee matchup between two frontline young starters can shape how each team manages its rotation and pitching priorities down the stretch.
The statistical contrast matters: Misiorowski’s run prevention and strikeout production arrive as Burns’ win track and ERA profile set the bar for a bounce-back.
Because neither club is likely to take a long view without consistent starter output, this game functions as an early, high-pressure benchmark for both rotations.
The historical “nearly” moment from 2025 adds narrative weight, underscoring how quickly pitching prospects can move into major-league impact roles.

Sources

Key Facts

Thursday’s game at American Family Field features Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski vs. Reds starter Chase Burns for their first MLB matchup.
Misiorowski, 24, enters with a 1.45 ERA, 146 strikeouts, a 0.77 WHIP, and a.144 batting average against, according to MLB.
MLB reported Misiorowski touched 105.5 mph in his most recent start, breaking his own starting-pitcher record since pitch tracking began in 2008.
Burns, 23, enters with a 9-1 record and a 2.36 ERA through 16 starts, per MLB.
MLB said Burns previously stretched from going 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA over 12 starts before allowing five runs on nine hits in his last outing against the Pirates.
The teams’ earlier prospect-plan overlap occurred in March 2025 when Burns did not pitch in a showcase that was initially intended to feature the same kind of matchup.