Recent playoff matches in Major League Baseball have showcased an extraordinary escalation in fastball velocities. The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres shattered records in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Together, the teams averaged a daunting 98.50 mph on the radar gun, setting a new benchmark for fastball speed in a single game, as noted by Baseball America’s JJ Cooper.
This development underscores a defining move in the evolution of pitching, where velocity competes alongside precision. In an astonishing turn of events during Game 2 of their NLDS at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves contributed to this narrative. Five pitchers achieved 100 mph or more: the Dodgers’ Edgardo Henriquez reached 103.0 mph, with teammates Roki Sasaki at 102.1 and Edwin Diaz at 100.8. The Braves’ Robert Suarez and Didier Fuentes hit 101.4 and 101.2 mph, respectively. According to Cooper, this marked the first occurrence of five different pitchers recording 100 mph in a single game.
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The Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski stands out as the hardest-throwing starter in history. His first pitch to Fernando Tatis Jr. registered an astounding 104.8 mph. As a prospective Cy Young Award winner, Misiorowski raises the benchmark for fastball speed unaided.
The Dodgers and Braves add a different dimension. Both Didier Fuentes and Roki Sasaki have seen increased velocity as they transition to the bullpen. Conversely, veteran closers like Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez have consistently delivered triple-digit fastballs over the years. Meanwhile, Edgardo Henriquez, at only 24 years old, has become a key figure for the Dodgers in postseason bullpen strategies.
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As of 2026, having a reliever capable of consistently throwing a fastball at three-digit speeds is now standard in MLB. The shift began in 2025 when every team had at least one pitcher achieving 100 mph. This trend continues to grow at the upper echelons of the league, driving ever faster pitching performances.
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