Every morning, we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition 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 Second Quarter Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList, and we’ll GIF it up and give you a shoutout here in the article.
Aaron Nola’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/repulsiveinfatuatedhellbender
Aaron Nola pitched a gem last night but didn’t factor into the decision in an eventual Phillies win. Nola had 10 strikeouts mainly using his elite knuckle-curve. Dominic Smith looks foolish swinging through a pitch that ends up out of the zone. Ridiculous break on this offering.
Josh Hader’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/snoopyflusteredfreshwatereel
Josh Hader closed the door on a Brewers win by using his signature four-seam fastball up in the zone. Dylan Moore had no chance against this seemingly rising pitch that ends up at the top of the strike zone. Can’t take it but can’t hit it is the ultimate nasty pitch.
Joe Musgrove’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/waryuntimelyisopod
Joe Musgrove blanked the struggling Astros using good command of his fastball and a sharp slider to mow down hitters. Musgrove strikes out Yordan Alvarez on three pitches, culminating in this sweeping slider that ends up behind Alvarez. Impressive.
Martin Perez’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/detailedwindingcondor
Martin Perez leads a surprisingly effective Twins’ vagabond rotation. Perez has always had a good changeup and uses it well to miss bats. Mike Zunino gets a slight tip on this pitch, but the nastiness is still apparent as the ball seems to be on a string that Perez pulls.
Stephen Strasburg’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/goodnaturedheftygiantschnauzer
Stephen Strasburg is a mainstay on Nastiest Pitches because he has multiple plus-plus offerings that are aesthetically appealing with high velocity to boot. Strasburg’s curveball was his finisher of choice tonight, and even though he got hit a little bit, Neil Walker can attest to the sharp movement on Strasburg’s curveball.
Dan Altavilla’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/rigidsentimentalhyena
Dan Altavilla is not a pitcher I’m particularly familiar with, but I’ll be keeping an eye on him just based on this one pitch. He also doesn’t seem to miss leg day based on his build. Altavilla’s sweeping slider flummoxed Eric Thames.
Aaron Nola’s Two-seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/sadsnivelinghomalocephale
Aaron Nola was so good last night that I couldn’t help but include two pitches from the Phillies ace. This two-seamer leaves Jeff McNeil irate at the call, but by my eye, the pitch breaks just enough to hit part of the plate. Good luck hitting this pitch. Better to hope for the umpire to bail out the hitter with a call.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Quarter Contest.
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