Brewers’ ace impressive to Braves’ Sale
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MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski outdueled one of his favorite pitchers and got quite a compliment from him afterward.
"It seems like he's kind of in a league of his own this year," 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale said after his Braves lost 2-1 to the Brewers on Friday. "It's probably the most impressive fastball I've ever seen."
That compliment meant plenty to Misiorowski, who has said on multiple occasions that Sale was one of the pitchers he enjoyed watching the most while growing up. Misiorowski pitched six shutout innings Friday in his first head-to-head matchup with Sale, who allowed two runs over six innings.
"It's awesome to hear it from a guy like Sale, such a great guy, definitely a guy I looked up to -- and still do," Misiorowski said. "It's really cool."
Sale's praise for Misiorowski's fastball came on a day when the Brewers phenom didn't rely on it nearly as much as usual. He solidified his status as the NL Cy Young Award favorite by showing he can thrive even when his fastball isn't at its best.
Misiorowski's 96-pitch outing included 56 four-seam fastballs but also 23 sliders, 14 cutters and three curves. Heading into Friday, Misiorowski was throwing four-seam fastballs 64% of the time and using his slider on only 11% of his pitches.
His fastball also didn't have quite as much velocity as usual, at least by Misiorowski's extraordinary standards. Misiorowski reached a top velocity of 103.1 mph, but that was the only pitch in which he exceeded 101.8. He reached at least 100 mph in 32 of his pitches.
Misiorowski (13-5) struck out six batters while allowing four hits and two walks in his six-inning stint. He has a 1.68 ERA and 216 strikeouts to lead the majors in both categories. Sale (12-9) has a 2.20 ERA to rank second.
Manager 'betrayed'
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are in the middle of a sizzling playoff race with 34 games remaining as of Friday, trying to eliminate distractions and play their best baseball as they work to return to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
Ketel Marte has made that basically impossible.
Four days after the three-time All-Star's mysterious disappearance during a road trip in Boston, the D-backs were still trying to figure out how to move forward after one of their best players essentially ghosted teammates and management during a crucial moment in the season.
"Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated," manager Torey Lovullo said. "I felt betrayed. And that's a whole different type of pain and frustration. But I'm through that."
Lovullo said he met with Marte on Thursday, along with general manager Mike Hazen and Marte's agent. The 32-year-old second baseman was put on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation shortly after the meeting.
Lovullo didn't get into many of the details of the discussion, but did say Marte had some frustration about his ailing knee. The switch-hitter was scheduled to be the team's designated hitter on Monday night before his no-show.
Marte -- who is hitting .249 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs this season -- was not in the clubhouse during media availability on Friday.
MLB debut on tap
SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners prized left-hander Kade Anderson will make his major league debut Saturday to start against the Chicago Cubs, manager Dan Wilson said Friday.
The 22-year-old Anderson is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and dominated the competition in his first minor league season. Anderson is 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 18 starts for Double-A Arkansas, striking out 135 batters and walking 13 across 93• innings.
The Mariners selected Anderson with the third pick in the 2025 draft out of LSU. When he takes the mound Saturday, Anderson will become the first player from his draft class to make his Major League debut.
A's Wilson out
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a dislocated left shoulder.
The A's also announced first baseman Nick Kurtz was moved to the 60-day IL with a strained right thumb. Outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, already out for the season because of a left hip injury, underwent surgery in Vail, Colorado.
Infielder Michael Stefanic and right-hander Kade Morris were called up from Triple-A and right-hander Taylor Rashi was optioned to Las Vegas.