Alvarez and Moreno win batting titles, Misiorowski leads majors in ERA and strikeouts

NEW YORK (AP) — Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno won their first batting titles Sunday, while Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski became just the fourth pitcher since 1950 to lead the majors in ERA, strikeouts and opponents’ batting average.

Alvarez's .316 average was the lowest for the overall major league batting champion, below the previous mark of .325 by Dick Groat for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. Alvarez had the lowest for an AL winner since Carl Yastrzemski's .301 in 1968.

“The batting title was something I always wanted," Alvarez said.

Moreno edged Philadelphia's Luis Arraez for the NL crown and became only the fifth player with at least 50 starts at catcher to win a batting championship, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He joined Bubbles Hargrave (1926), Ernie Lombardi (1938, ‘42), Buster Posey (2012) and Joe Mauer (2006, ’08, '09).

Moreno, Arizona's first batting champion, was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday because of a tender hamstring and he finished at .311, one percentage point above Arraez. A three-time batting champion, Arraez sprained an ankle Thursday and missed the Phillies' last regular-season series.

“It’s something that you dream when you’re playing baseball since you’re 3 years old, 4 years old,” Moreno said.

Seven qualified big leaguers hit .300 or better, matching 2024 and 2025 for the fewest since a record-low six in 1968. Colorado's TJ Rumfield reached .300 with a first-inning single Saturday, was removed in the second and didn't play Sunday.

Misiorowski finished with 252 strikeouts, a 1.80 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .157. The only other pitchers since 1950 to lead the major leagues in all three categories were Sandy Koufax in 1965, J.R. Richard in 1979 and Mike Scott in 1986, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Misiorowski's opponents' batting average was the lowest since 1900 for an AL or NL pitcher with 100 or more innings, bettering Pedro Martinez's .167 in 2000, Elias said. His 0.80 WHIP was the lowest for pitchers with at least 150 innings since Martinez's 0.73 in 2000.

Misiorowski threw 1,115 pitches 100 mph or faster, most in a season since tracking started in 2008. He shattered the prior mark of 673 by Jordan Hicks in 2018.

“Honestly, being able to go in week in and week out and perform for my teammates, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Misiorowski said.

Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees won the AL ERA title at 1.95 and had a 1.16 ERA on the road, the third-lowest in the Live Ball era for a pitcher with 100 or more innings behind Bob Gibson's 0.81 in 1968 and Greg Maddux's 1.12 in 1995.

Houston set a record for lowest winning percentage by a first-place team at .500 with an 81-81 mark that won the AL West.

Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox set the season record for strikeouts by a batter with 227, four more than Mark Reynolds in 2009.

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber tied for the home run lead with 45. Pete Alonso topped the AL with 43 after leaving the New York Mets as a free agent to sign with the Orioles.

Alec Burleson of St. Louis led the NL in RBIs with 116 and Alonso topped the AL with 113, becoming the first player to win an RBI title in both leagues. Alonso paced the NL with 131 in 2022 for the Mets.

Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds had the most doubles with 40 and Boston's Wilyer Abreu led the AL with 38.

Corbin Carroll became the first player to lead his league in triples in four straight seasons, hitting 17 for the Diamondbacks. Minnesota's Kody Clemens had seven triples, the fewest for an AL leader in a non-shortened season.

Washington's Nasim Nuñez led the major leagues with 49 stolen bases, and Tampa Bay's Chandler Simpson topped the AL with 46.

Philadelphia's Cristopher Sánchez and Boston's Sonny Gray tied for the lead with 18 wins. There have not been any 20-game winners since Atlanta's Spencer Strider in 2023. The only other non-shortened seasons without a 20-game winner were 1871, 2006, 2009 and 2017.

Cleveland's Gavin Williams led the AL with 248 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker and Cleveland's Cade Smith tied for most saves with 41, while San Diego's Mason Miller and St. Louis' Riley O'Brien led the NL with 38 each.

AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham and AP freelance writers Adam Camarena and Matt Carlson contributed to this report.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso tosses his bat after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno watches his three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tanner Gordon in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez follows through on a double against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — After completing one of the most extraordinary regular seasons of any pitcher in recent history, Milwaukee Brewers flame-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski cited the one number that meant the most to him.

Thirty.

That’s the number of starts Misiorowski made in his first full season in the majors while establishing himself as a Cy Young Award favorite.

“Honestly, being able to go in week in and week out and perform for my teammates, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Misiorowski said Sunday in reference to the number of starts he made this season.

Misiorowski (16-5) made that 30th start Sunday and allowed two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to cap one of the greatest seasons for any pitcher in franchise history. The 24-year-old could join Rollie Fingers (1981), Pete Vukovich (1982) and Corbin Burnes (2021) as Brewers to win Cy Young Awards.

His performance Sunday helped the Brewers close the regular season with a franchise-best 103-59 record.

“That number, I think it’s cool,” Misiorowski said. “It’s not 100. It’s not 101. It’s a little bit more than that. It just shows the work these guys in here have put in and done throughout the season.”

Misiorowski has put up plenty of pretty cool numbers this year.

He posted a 1.80 ERA, struck out 252 batters and limited hitters to a .157 batting average to lead the major leagues in all three categories. The only other pitchers since 1950 to finish a season atop all three of those categories are Sandy Koufax in 1965, J.R. Richard in 1979 and Mike Scott in 1986, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

That .157 opponents’ batting average was the lowest since 1900 for an AL or NL pitcher with 100 or more innings, improving upon Pedro Martinez’s .167 in 2000. His 0.80 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per innings pitched) was the lowest in a full regulation season for pitchers with at least 150 innings since Martinez’s 0.73 in 2000.

Misiorowski is the first pitcher in Brewers history to lead the league in both ERA and strikeouts in the same season. His 252 strikeouts are the second-highest, single-season total in Brewers history, behind Ben Sheets' 264 in 2004.

“Have I ever seen a year on the mound like that in the major leagues? Probably not,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s as good as I’ve seen.”

Misiorowski has produced those totals while throwing harder than any other starting pitcher.

His 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or more were the most in a season since tracking started in 2008, shattering the prior mark of 673 by Jordan Hicks in 2018.

“What he has is a gift,” Brewers second baseman Brice Turang said. “It’s really incredible to stand there behind him and watch him do what he does.”

The American Family Field sellout crowd showed its appreciation for Misiorowski by giving him a standing ovation as he left the mound after striking out Jordan Walker in the sixth inning. Misiorowski responded by tipping his cap as he headed into the dugout, acknowledging a special moment that capped a special regular season.

“That was fun,” Misiorowski said. “That was cool. Hopefully there’s a few more like that.”

Misiorowski wants to help the Brewers win their first World Series title.

Although Milwaukee is heading to the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, the Brewers have never won it all and made their lone World Series appearance way back in 1982. Milwaukee has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for a second straight year.

During last year’s postseason, Misiorowski made three relief appearances and posted a 1.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 12 innings as the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series before getting swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

This year, Misiorowski enters the playoffs as the Brewers’ clear ace. He’s expected to get the call for Game 1 of the NLDS when the Brewers face either the Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Misiorowski was asked Sunday when he’d start to flip the switch toward getting ready for the postseason.

“That flipped a while back,” Misiorowski said. “We’re ready to go.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, center right, hugs teammate Logan Henderson, center left, after exiting to a standing ovation in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) shakes hands with catcher Gary Sánchez, second from left, during a pitching change in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)