Every morning we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious HD GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the First Half Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
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Paul Blackburn’s Curveball – Blackburn picked up five K’s across 6.1 innings of shutout ball, and he added Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor to his list of victims with this curveball that seemed to stretch from the shortstop’s shoulders to his ankles.
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Diego Castillo’s Two-Seamer – Granted, Tropicana Field has one of baseball’s best camera angles, as we get a shot from direct center that’s conducive to showing pitch movement. But don’t let that fool you into thinking the stuff in the Rays bullpen is overrated simply because we get a better view. Please observe the sink on this 97 mph fastball to Houston’s Evan Gattis as Exhibit A.
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Jose Berrios’ Curveball – Berrios didn’t have much working against the Cubs in Friday’s interleague matchup, as he gave up six runs in 4.1 innings. Still, he yoinked fellow pitcher Mike Montgomery with his trademark hook to get out of trouble in the second inning.
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Chaz Roe’s Slider – The Tampa reliever continued to cut his best impression of a partial planetary orbit with this slidepiece to Houston’s Jake Marisnick, helping him to a clean inning Friday.
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Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball – The Cardinals rookie kept it 100 (OK, 101) against the Braves’ Nick Markakis, roasting the outfielder on this eighth-inning fastball.
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Blake Treinen’s Sinker – Cleveland’s Yonder Alonso didn’t like the call much, but that doesn’t take away from the nastiest that was Treinen’s fastball. The A’s closer then punched him out on the next pitch with a devastating slider.
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Yacksel Rios’ Two-Seamer – The Phillies reliever was pumping 98 mph gas with movement in mop-up duty against Washington’s Trea Turner, after starter Nick Pivetta got torched for seven runs in 1.2 innings.
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Trevor Bauer’s Curveball – The 27-year-old dropped eight K’s in 6.2 innings against the A’s, making second baseman Franklin Barreto do the buckle-and-twist in the process.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Half Contest.
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