Cubs Not Escaping Elite Pitching as Division Rival Calls Up Top Pitching Prospect

The Chicago Cubs have faced some elite pitching on their current road trip and they won't escape it in their upcoming home stand either after a bold call up by their division rivals. The Milwaukee Brewers are making a huge statement by calling up their top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski, who is expected to start on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

ESPN's Jeff Passan broke the news of the promotion on Tuesday and if Misiorowski does indeed start Thursday, then the right-handed pitcher will be in line to start next week against the Cubs at Wrigley Field as well.

Misiorowski, 23, was taken 63rd overall in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Brewers and since then has quickly risen through Milwaukee's minor league system. Standing at 6-foot-7, Misiorowski has overwhelmed opponents with an over-powering fastball and overall good stuff.

So far in 2025, Misiorowski has posted a 2.13 ERA in 63.1 innings, striking out 80 batters in 13 games.

Beginning on April 22, Misiorowski has recorded a 1.81 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A with a 33.5 k% in 44.2 innings. Like many young pitchers Misiorowski can get into trouble when he starts losing the strike zone. On May 31, he walked six hitters and gave up five earned runs before his start was cut short after two innings. But when he's on, Misiorowski is one of the best pitching prospects in MLB.

If the Brewers keep their starting rotation in order, then Misiorowski will be the projected starter for the series finale against the Cubs on June 19.

The Cubs have a 3-4 record on their current road trip that has included matchups against MacKenzie Gore, Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Zack Wheeler. All four losses for the Cubs have come against those starting pitchers as the offense has been held to four total runs in those games.

The pitching matchups aren't getting any easier for the Cubs during the next week. Phillies rookie Mick Abel, who has a 0.79 ERA in two MLB starts, is pitching Tuesday night. Although the Pittsburgh Pirates aren't a good overall team they'll send out Andrew Heaney and his 3.24 ERA against the Cubs on Thursday followed by Paul Skenes on Friday.

And now the Cubs will probably have to face the newest young pitching phenom in the NL Central next week thanks to Jacob Misiorowski's big-league promotion.