Jacob Misiorowski Threw 254 Pitches Over 100 MPH, And The League Has No Answer

Alright, Mariners fans, buckle up because the MLB starting pitcher power rankings just dropped for the fourth time this season, and guess what? We've got a new king on the mound! But honestly, while Cristopher Sánchez is taking the crown, there's another dude whose stats are so bananas, they'll make you question everything you thought you knew about pitching velocity. Seriously, the early season chaos is real, and the arms out there are doing things that are just plain unfair to hitters.

The New Ace And A Fastball That Melts Radar Guns

So, who’s the new numero uno? It's Cristopher Sánchez from the Phillies, who rocketed to the top after being at number four last poll. This lanky lefty threw a shutout on Saturday, extending his active scoreless streak to an unbelievable 29 2/3 innings! That's the longest in the Majors right now, and he's chasing a historic 41-inning mark set by Grover Alexander back in 1911 for Phillies pitchers. He's carving guys up with a simple three-pitch mix, led by a nasty changeup that batters are hitting a measly .148 against, whiffing on it 49% of the time. This guy is the real deal, a legitimate ace, no doubt.

But then there's Jacob Misiorowski. The Brewers' flamethrower is sitting at number two, jumping from seventh, and his stats are just ridiculous. After six spotless innings at Wrigley, he's got the third-longest scoreless streak in the league at 24 1/3 innings. Get this: the dude leads the Majors with 88 strikeouts and a 39.3% strikeout rate! His average fastball velocity is touching 99.7 mph, and MLB.com's Mike Petriello even said "The Miz" might be the hardest-throwing starting pitcher EVER. He's thrown 254 pitches over 100 mph already this season. Want to know what's crazier? The second and third place pitchers on that list? Their combined total is 265 pitches over 100 mph. That's pure, unadulterated heat, and it's making hitters look silly.

Elite Company And Early Season Domination

And the rest of this list is a who's who of incredible arms. Cam Schlittler for the Yankees, at 25 years old, is leading qualified pitchers in ERA at 1.35 and FIP at 1.83, plus he’s first in Statcast’s Pitching Run Value. He's basically a fastball machine, throwing it over 90% of the time! Then there's Shohei Ohtani, who dropped from the top spot but don't get it twisted, he's still a beast. His 0.82 ERA is the lowest among all pitchers with at least 40 innings, and opponents are hitting a mere .159 against him. He's leaned into his fastball/sweeper combo, throwing it 71.4% of the time, up from last year. Paul Skenes, the defending NL Cy Young winner, had a rough outing allowing five runs, but his 2.09 expected ERA is even better than last year, and he's still the toughest pitcher to hit with a .158 batting average against. Even 37-year-old Chris Sale is out here with a 1.96 ERA, showing us all how it's done. And keep an eye on 23-year-old Chase Burns, just cracking the list, even if Terry Francona isn't calling him an ace quite yet.

What a wild start to the 2026 season for pitchers around the league! While the Mariners weren't on this particular list, it’s all about these early trends and who’s stepping up. And speaking of stepping up, our guys took care of business at T-Mobile Park last night, snatching a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox! You love to see it. Keep that energy, Emerald City, because this season is just getting started, and every win feels huge. Get ready for the next one, we'll be there cheering our hearts out!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.