The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres set a new record for fastball speed. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the teams achieved an average fastball velocity of 98.50 mph. According to Baseball America’s JJ Cooper, this broke the record for the highest average fastball velocity in a single game.
This marks a significant moment in the trend of increasingly fast pitches. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves pushed this trend further the following day. In Game 2 of their NLDS at Dodger Stadium, five pitchers reached speeds of 100 mph or more. Dodgers’ Edgardo Henriquez hit 103.0 mph, Roki Sasaki reached 102.1 mph, and Edwin Diaz recorded 100.8 mph. Braves’ Robert Suarez threw 101.4 mph, and Didier Fuentes hit 101.2 mph.
Cooper notes this is the first game where five pitchers were clocked at 100 mph. The Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski stands out with a fastball reaching 104.8 mph, solidifying his reputation as the hardest-throwing starter in baseball history. Misiorowski is expected to win the NL Cy Young Award due to his exceptional speed.
The Dodgers and Braves’ combination is unusual. Fuentes and Sasaki normally start games but are reaching new speeds in the bullpen. Diaz and Suarez are experienced closers known for their triple-digit fastballs. Henriquez, aged 24, has been part of the Dodgers’ playoff bullpen for two years.
In 2026, having a reliever capable of triple-digit fastballs is standard in MLB. Every team had at least one pitcher achieve 100.0 mph or faster by the 2025 season. In 2026, this trend continues, with top-tier teams advancing it.
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