Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Aaron Nola’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/whirlwindfaroffflyingfox
Aaron Nola was the leader of the night in strikeouts, recording nine over eight strong innings. This changeup to Eric Thames exhibits why Nola was so dominant Tuesday night. After getting Thames to swing through a knuckle-curve the pitch before, Nola’s changeup dives out of the zone to bring Thames to a knee.
Dallas Keuchel’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/slipperyraggedearthworm
Dallas Keuchel turned in another strong outing Tuesday night to continue his solid start to the 2020 season. He showcases his cutter here to get Miguel Sano to take a big swing over top of it and record the strikeout.
Michael Pineda’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/downrightwelcomegiantschnauzer
Opposing Keuchel on the mound Tuesday evening was Michael Pineda making his season debut as he returned from suspension. Pineda completed six innings in an efficient 81 pitches including this slider to strike out Eloy Jimenez.
Framber Valdez’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/creamytiredkoi
Framber Valdez showcased his strong repertoire Tuesday night, and a number of his pitches could have made it on this list. However, this curveball to freeze Ronald Guzman may have been his best of the night. After he got Guzman to watch a fastball on the outside corner the pitch before, Valdez came back with a front door curveball, and all Guzman could do is watch.
Ian Anderson’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/acceptableidealewe
While Ian Anderson’s debut may have been hard to top, he nearly did so in his second start on Tuesday night against the Red Sox. Anderson set Tzu-Wei Lin up perfectly in this at bat, offering back to back fastballs above the zone, before getting him to chase a well-placed changeup below the zone.
Michael Fulmer’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/littledefenselessirishredandwhitesetter
Michael Fulmer has had a rough start to the season as his ERA still sits in the high 7.00s. He only lasted three innings on Tuesday night, but picked up six strikeouts including this one of Eric Sogard on a changeup with late downward movement.
Masahiro Tanaka’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/whirlwindevenchuckwalla
While Masahiro Tanaka’s bread and butter is his splitter, he showed he can rack up the strikeouts with his slider on Tuesday night. Tanaka was able to throw his slider down and in to lefties all night continually getting them to swing over top of it. Brandon Lowe was one of Tanaka’s seven strikeout victims on the night.
Carlos Hernandez’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/freshshockedaardwolf
Carlos Hernandez came on in relief of Matt Harvey Tuesday night after Harvey was tagged for five runs over an inning and a third. Hernandez, making him major league debut, recorded his first career strikeout on this nice curveball at the bottom of the zone to Roberto Perez.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner may be featured in our Nastiest Pitches tournament midway through the season.
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