Ice in his veins: How 'The Miz' is prepping for battle with rival Cubs

MILWAUKEE -- After scratching out a win over the Marlins on Sunday, the Brewers immediately shift their focus to the Cubs, their heated division rival, for a crucial three-game series in Milwaukee beginning on Monday.

Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ rookie pitching sensation, will take the mound in the opener and get his first taste of the rivalry. The Brewers and Cubs are tied for the top spot in the NL Central. So, will the 23-year-old righty known as “The Miz” do anything special in gearing up for the Cubs?

“It’s just another game. I don’t think it’s anything crazy,” Misiorowski said. “I know it’s a division rival so it’s going to be fun, but there’s nothing different from a normal day.”

One would expect the All-Star hurler to study ways to get out Cubs star players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, but don’t count on it.

“I don’t really prepare for an opponent,” Misiorowski said. “I just prepare my body for a game. I don’t think I’m looking ahead at who’s going to be there. It’s just about making myself ready.”

Studying his past starts to get ready for his next appearance on the mound isn’t part of the program, either.

“God, no. I can’t do that at all,” Misiorowski said. “I’m just trying to stay physically ready. I don’t think mentally preparing for a game, at least for me.”

Misiorowski said he’ll likely start thinking about the Cubs when he heads to the bullpen on Monday to play catch.

“It’s that quick. There’s not very much thought on who we’re going to face, it’s just about what I need to do,” he said.

Avoiding deep study about an upcoming opponent is a matter of keeping things simple, Misiorowski insisted.

“In my mindset there’s no point,” he said. “I’m going to have success with what I’ve been doing. It’s a lot of feel. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

What he's been doing has caught the attention of the baseball world. After just five Major League starts, he was named to the National League All-Star team, pitching a scoreless inning on the big stage. After six starts, he is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

Veteran Brandon Woodruff, who pitched the series finale against the Marlins on Sunday, said he doesn’t expect Misiorowski to be rattled by the moment.

“This kid throws 102 [mph]. I wouldn’t be scared of nothing,” Woodruff said. “He deserves a lot of the hype he’s getting. You don’t see pitchers like him. He’s not going to approach it any differently than any other game.”

Misiorowski often has a smile on his face when he’s toeing the rubber, for good reason.

“It’s just a dream come true,” he said. “The joy just comes from being competitive.”

The lanky right-hander, who stands 6-foot-7, also shows considerable emotion after striking out opponents.

“I’m excited for every out that I get,” Misiorowski said. “It could be some 40-year-old MLB guy or a rookie -- it’s still going to be the same emotion. It’s still a big league out.”

The show of emotion, he said, is also aimed at generating energy for his teammates as they get ready to head to the plate.

“My goal of getting fired up is to try and fire up the guys around me and help the offense,” Misiorowski said. “If I do my job on the field, then they can come in and help me out a little bit on that side. That’s the goal.”