The Milwaukee Brewers have a chance to tie the longest win streak in franchise history Friday night in Cincinnati. They're looking for what they hope is lucky win No. 13.
And they're turning to Jacob Misiorowski to help them match the club record, which was set in 1987, in other words 15 years before the All-Star rookie pitcher was born.
Milwaukee activated the 6-foot-7, 23-year-old Misiorowski from the injured list and then announced him as its starter for the series opener against the Reds.
He missed about two and a half weeks with a left tibia contusion. The Brewers placed the high-heat-throwing righty on the 15-day IL on Aug. 3 and called up Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville to take his spot.
Misiorowski suffered the injury when he took a comebacker to the leg during an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on July 28. Although he remained in the game, he needed 80 pitches to go four innings, during which he allowed 2 runs and 3 hits with 2 walks but also 7 strikeouts.
"I wasn't bouncing back as well as I was hoping," Misiorowski told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg. "I was still a little sore from getting hit."
Because the Brewers made Misiorowski's brief IL stay retroactive to July 31, he was eligible to be activated Friday. He missed only two starts in his absence.
Misiorowski made MLB history this summer when he earned a spot in the midsummer classic after just five major-league appearances, the fewest games ever played by someone named to the All-Star Game. His selection was controversial. His talent, however, is not.
Misiorowski has a fastball that consistently reaches or eclipses 100 mph. His slider and curveball are dangerous, too.
He made his debut on June 12. Since, he's registered a 2.70 ERA in seven starts with 47 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.
Last month, he pitched with an 11-game Brewers win steak on the line. He was pulled after spinning three scoreless frames in a game Milwaukee ultimately lost 1-0 to the Seattle Mariners.
If the Brewers get a similarly strong performance from Misiorowski in his return Friday, they'll be in good position to keep their momentum going and share some history with their 1987 team.
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