The Milwaukee Brewers closed out the National League Division Series at home on Saturday night with a Game 5 win over the Chicago Cubs to make it back to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2018.
The home team won every game of the NLDS, as the Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the series before the Cubs answered with two home wins facing elimination. But, the MLB's best team during the regular season came through on Saturday night in Game 5 to punch their ticket to the NLCS.
The Brewers did so behind a dominant pitching performance led by two rookies who didn't blink in the biggest moment of the season, helping Milwaukee to a 3-1 win.
Rookies Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick Shine
Game 5 was a bullpen game for both teams, but after the Brewers had their former closer in Trevor Megill open the game, pitching the first inning, it was rookies Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick who came through big for Milwaukee.
"The Miz" as he's known around the Brewers clubhouse entered in the second inning and gave the Brewers four innings and allowed just one run on three hits, and struck out three batters. Misiorowski left the game with the Brewers up 2-1.
"It's everything we've worked for, and it's awesome to be here," Misiorowski said postgame. "It's just always what the team needs and trying to put up zeros for them."
Jacob Misiorowski in the NLDS:
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 12, 2025
7 IP
4 H
1 ER
2 BB
7 K
The rookie showed up in a massive way 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UVd6c7NAeT
The rookie pitcher knew he'd have his moment in Game 5, but he had no idea when or for how long.
"No, I didn't know s--t. They wanted four out of me, so that's what they got," Misiorowski said. "It's unreal. It's awesome that they have that much trust in me, and it's awesome to be here."
Misiorowski was a second round pick out of junior college in 2022, and wasn't on the Brewers' Opening Day roster. However, he came up to make his major league debut early in the season and announced himself to the MLB.
1 UNASSISTED
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2025
Jacob Misiorowski is FIRED UP #NLDS pic.twitter.com/vGEybcMWBi
The 23-year-old pitched three scoreless innings in Game 2 against the Cubs, but walked two batters. On Saturday night, Misiorowski took some velocity off of his fastball (from 104mph to 100mph), to work on locating it better, and it worked to near perfection.
"I think it's just trusting your stuff and knowing that the heaters going to be there, you just got to play with it, and get to the off-speed that I needed," Misiorowski said. "So, it was good. It's been crazy. It's been a whirlwind. It's been fun."
Misiorowski put his stamp on the NLDS becoming the second player in MLB history to earn a win despite not starting in each of his first two games of his postseason career, according to OptaSTATS. However, "The Miz" wasn't the only Brewers' rookie with an incredible outing in Game 5.
Rookie pitcher Chad Patrick delivered 1.2 scoreless innings for the Brewers with three strikeouts. Patrick entered the game in the sixth inning when the Cubs had two runners on with one out, and he kept the Cubs off the board.
Chad Patrick, Painted 91mph Back Door Cutter. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/xJLZISCFuL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 12, 2025
Patrick was a fourth round pick in 2021, and the Brewers acquired him in a trade involving Abraham Toro. The Brewers' rookie was not on the Opening Day roster either, and has now pitched in some of the biggest moments of the Brewers' season.
The 27-year-old pitched in four of the five games against the Cubs, giving the Brewers 4.2 scoreless innings in relief with six strikeouts.
The Brewers wouldn't have beaten the Cubs without their rookies' contributions and it certainly won't be the last time this postseason Misiorowski and Patrick have their chance to make their impact felt.
The Brewers will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS that begins on Monday night, where they'll be looking to earn their first World Series appearance since 1982.