Mize not only threw a 104.5 mph pitch but also completed a 9-inning shutout with 15 strikeouts.

Do you think Jacob Misiorowski was fueled by anger against the Phillies?

The Brewers' flamethrower today at American Family Field in Milwaukee, in a 6-0 shutout, began by striking out Kyle Schwarber with a 104.5 mph fastball, the fastest pitch ever thrown by a starting pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008. He then struck out Trea Turner with a 103.5 mph fastball, followed by Bryce Harper with a 104.1 mph fastball. Those three swinging strikeouts against three superstars were also the three fastest strikeout pitches by a starter in the pitch-tracking era (including playoffs).

And this was just the beginning of what could be the greatest start in Brewers history, which also happened to fall on the one-year anniversary of Misiorowski's MLB debut.

The only blemish in this remarkable pitching performance was a leadoff single by Schwarber in the fourth inning. Misiorowski recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts, completing the Brewers' first complete-game shutout since Brandon Woodruff's shutout of the Marlins nearly three years ago. Using just 95 pitches (74 strikes), Misiorowski finished what he started. This was the most strikeouts in a so-called 'Maddux' (a complete-game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches) since pitch counts were first recorded in 1988, surpassing the previous record of 13 set by Tarik Skubal's Maddux last year.

What added extra edge to the already angry fastball of this 24-year-old pitcher? Remember, last July when MLB invited Misiorowski, who had only five starts under his belt, to the All-Star Game, it was the Phillies who raised the loudest objections. They believed the honor should have gone to their ace left-hander Cristopher Sánchez.

Now the two aces faced off again. Misiorowski went 5-0 with a 0.23 ERA in May, yet did not win the National League Pitcher of the Month award because Sánchez posted a 0.00 ERA over five starts for the Phillies. Misiorowski was unfazed by finishing second.

Entering June, Misiorowski said of the Phillies: 'I've never been welcomed in that clubhouse, so they're probably happy about it.'

The Phillies were not happy today, because from the first strikeout of Schwarber, it was a complete domination. Home plate umpire Chad Fairchild ruled it a foul tip caught by catcher William Contreras. While there was controversy—Schwarber vehemently argued—the pitch appeared to catch the zone. Regardless, it was the first out of a three-up, three-down first inning with three strikeouts, and it was also the three fastest strikeout pitches ever recorded by a starting pitcher. Misiorowski previously held the old record (103.4 mph against the Cardinals on May 25). With today's first-inning performance, he now holds the top ten spots on that list.

The fastest pitch in the pitch-tracking era was thrown by then-Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman at 105.8 mph on September 24, 2010. The fastest strikeout pitch was thrown by Angels reliever Ben Joyce at 105.5 mph on September 3, 2024.

But Misiorowski was not satisfied with just one dominant inning to send a message to the Phillies. In the second inning, he retired the side on nine pitches, all strikes, missing a perfect inning only due to a groundout by Alec Bohm. After three innings, Misiorowski had faced nine batters and retired all of them, with eight strikeouts. When Schwarber led off the fourth with a clean single, Misiorowski responded by striking out Turner again and inducing a double play from Harper to end the inning, getting back on track to face the minimum.

Inning after inning of electrifying pitching, he stayed on the mound.

By the fifth inning, Misiorowski had recorded his ninth career game and sixth this season with double-digit strikeouts. In the sixth, he tied his career high with his 12th strikeout, and in the seventh, he set a new personal best with his 13th. In the eighth, his 14th strikeout matched the highest single-game total in the majors this season. In the ninth, Misiorowski completed the task, marking the Brewers' first complete game since Brandon Woodruff shut out the Marlins 12-0 at the same ballpark on September 11, 2023. Of course, he ended the night with his 15th strikeout, tying Corbin Burnes for the second-most in Brewers history, behind only Ben Sheets (18 strikeouts against the Braves on May 16, 2004).

We just missed the head-to-head matchup between the two NL Cy Young candidates from these teams, as Sánchez is expected to start for the Phillies next Monday.