Jacob Misiorowski to pitch in relief for first time in big leagues

MILWAUKEE – The Brewers will try something new on Saturday to see how it feels with postseason roster decisions looming.

The plan calls for fellow rookie Robert Gasser to start Saturdayâ€s game against the Reds at American Family Field and for the 23-year-old Misiorowski to follow. Gasserâ€s pitch count will be once again limited in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery, leaving plenty of runway for Misiorowski to work in a potential preview of a multi-inning relief role in October.

“I want to see how he handles the moment, you know what I mean?†Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook said. “Does that dial him in more? Does that give him a refresher, like when he first got in the big leagues? Is it going to be that live body that we were accustomed to? I just want to see how he reacts more than anything and see if heâ€s comfortable in the moment.â€

“I think weâ€ll know early in the outing,†Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Weâ€ll monitor it, but I think heâ€s an important piece. I think heâ€s got huge upside and heâ€s got huge possibilities for us. And I think he can help us right now.â€

The move comes with Misiorowski sporting a 6.23 ERA in his past seven starts since returning from a stint on the injured list for a bruised shin. He threw 77 pitches for 11 outs in his most recent start, a Sept. 19 loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis, after which Murphy said itâ€s unlikely that Misiorowski would start for the Brewers in the NLDS.

But that still leaves open the possibility of deploying his triple-digit fastball in a bullpen role, which is not entirely foreign to Misiorowski. Last year, he shifted to the bullpen for Triple-A Nashville late in the season, just in case the Brewers had a bullpen need down the stretch. He had a 1.84 ERA in 12 relief outings, with 19 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings, and even picked up a save.

But it turned out the Brewers didnâ€t have a need, so Misiorowski didnâ€t make his Major League debut until this June as a starter. Heâ€s mostly been in that role since, with time in the bullpen earlier this week while the Brewers were in San Diego. Misiorowski wound up not pitching.

“I think heâ€s very excited for this moment [Saturday],†Hook said. “I can see he perked up a little bit. We all believe heâ€s a starter. He believes heâ€s a starter. But this is exciting for him, and I think ‘exciting†is good for a young player.â€

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