The Brewers are now standing at a familiar postseason nightmare, one game from disappointment and one moment away from redemption. After losing 2 back-to-back games to the Cubs, the pressure is now on Jacob Misiorowski. The 23-year-old star’s journey has been special. The young star’s upcoming appearance in Game 5 will be at American Family Field, and it could decide the fate of the Brewers.

As Andy McCullough highlighted in his column for The Athletic, the Brewers are banking on the young star to  “hit triple digits in Major League Baseball’s Fall Classic.” Misiorowski can enter from the bullpen in Game 5, which is a high-pressure assignment the young star does not take lightly. “It adds a little stress to the job,” Misiorowski said. “But you also get the adrenaline of ‘Oh, s—, here it goes, this is it”, he added. For the team that is haunted by postseason breakdowns, from Trent Grisham’s 2019 collapse to Pete Alonso’s 2024 dagger, the outing highlights redemption and reckoning.

Pat Murphy’s team has a plan to lean on the young star, and it speaks to necessity and faith. With stars like Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester faltering and Brandon Woodruff sidelined, the Brewers’ pitching situation is struggling. Misiorowski has proven his power in Game 2 by spinning three scoreless innings against the Cubs and touching 104 mph. His performance mesmerized fans and his teammates. However, Murphy had to calm Misiorowski midgame, telling the adrenaline-charged star to “chill.” Such a glimpse of volatility highlights the fine line the team now walks.

Still, concerns remain related to whether he can handle the pressure. Jacob Misiorowski’s post-All-Star issues, a 5.36 ERA, and bouts of wildness highlighted a young star learning on the fly. A shin injury also detailed the star’s midseason flow, and after that, the team eased Misiorowski into the bullpen. However, with elimination on the head, now that transition could be vital.

“He’s got to go out there and do his job,” William Contreras said. “He hasn’t done anything yet. That’s the mentality we need”, the catcher added. For the team that has seen multiple seasons end without any outcome, the postseason survival could just rest in the power of a kid whose fire is unpredictable and at the same time unstoppable.

As the Brewers count on the young star for Game 5, the Cubs are facing their share of drama over who will take the field in the decisive showdown.

Cubs rotation chaos adds drama to decisive Game 5

While the Brewers‘ fate rests on Misiorowski, the Cubs are dealing with uncertainty of their own. The team’s dream of having rookie Cade Horton return in time for Game 5 dissolved when Craig Counsell shut down any speculation. Cade Horton dominated the regular season with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 ERA. He declared himself pain-free and ready to throw; however, Counsell was not budging. When asked related to finding a roster opening to activate Horton, the manager ended the question before it began: “No.”

Such a blunt reaction leaves the Cubs without a clear Game 5 starter, and it has forced the manager to adopt a patchwork approach once again. Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea remain in the mix, though neither provides much comfort. Imanaga was tagged for four earned runs in just 2.2 innings at the period of Game 2, while Rea fared better in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless frames. The manager called it an “all-hands-on-deck” game, highlighting that “we’ve got 11 pitchers to figure out how to get 27 outs.” The approach mirrors the team’s scrappy identity all season — improvising, surviving, and thinking that their bullpen can outlast the Brewers.

Still, the Cubs are going forward with optimism. Horton is recovering through rehab and pointed to a possible return if the team advances to face the Dodgers in the NLCS. “That’s the plan so far,” the young star said. Horton’s availability, from the sidelines, also fuels belief in a team that has clawed its way back into contention. For Cubs fans, Game 5 is not just related to surviving the power of the Brewers; it is related to keeping alive the dream of seeing their young star guide them toward October glory.