(Photo credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images)

Everything points to the Thursday afternoon game between the Cincinnati Reds and the host Milwaukee Brewers being a miserable contest for hitters.

That's because the contest features a pitching matchup of the major league's ERA and strikeout leader, Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.45 ERA), and the Reds' ace, Chase Burns (9-1, 2.36).

'It's gonna be fun. He's good,' Burns said. 'He's so good. I'm pumped about it.'

Misiorowski has 146 strikeouts in 99 innings. Burns is tied for fourth in the NL in wins, along with Misiorowski and three others. Burns has 112 strikeouts, tied for seventh in the league, in 91 2/3 innings.

In addition to his spectacular stats, Misiorowski made more news in his last start, a 6-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday in which he allowed a run on two hits in six innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. He unleashed a 105.5 mph pitch to Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first inning.

It was the third-fastest pitch since tracking became official in 2008. Only Aroldis Chapman, who threw a 105.8 mph pitch in 2011 and a 105.7 mph offering in 2016, has thrown faster pitches. Misiorowski tied a 105.5 mph delivery from Ben Joyce in 2024.

'I think I slipped a little bit,' Misiorowski joked about the pitch after the game. 'I think I've got a little more.'

He can hope the heat will faze the Reds, who have done well against him in his two appearances (one start). On Aug. 15, 2025, the Reds tagged him for five runs on four hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. He then faced Cincinnati in relief on Sept. 27, and he yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Misiorowski fanned three in each of those contests.

Burns got a no-decision in his latest outing, when the Reds defeated the host Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Saturday. He was uncharacteristically knocked around to the tune of five runs and nine hits in six innings, though he did not walk a batter and struck out 10.

Burns' lone appearance against the Brewers came in relief last Sept. 28. He didn't allow a run or a hit in 1 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out four.

The Brewers will be going for a sweep of the four-game series on Thursday after earning a 4-2 win on Wednesday.

Garrett Mitchell is 6-for-8 in the past two games after going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run on Wednesday. He produced the game-winning RBI, as his two-out triple in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie.

Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby (12-1) boosted his major-league-leading victory total after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Reds have lost four in a row.

Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson, who went 2-for-4 with a run on Wednesday, is 7-for-15 in his past four games. He scored ahead of Noelvi Marte's fifth home run in the second inning.

Cincinnati's Matt McLain started in center field for the first time in his three-season major league career on Wednesday. He appeared at the position for the first time on Tuesday after entering as an eighth-inning pinch hitter. McLain previously had seen action in the field only at second base and shortstop.

--Field Level Media