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 Third 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.
Adam Ottavino’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/rewardinglinearape
Adam Ottavino’s first season as a New York Yankee has been, in a word, incredible. Even after allowing 2 ER in a single IP on Saturday, his ERA is still a spectacular 1.73, and it sat at 1.41 prior to his collapse. He owns a 12.46 K/9, and just a 0.7 HR/9. He should certainly be considered a front-runner for the Mariano Rivera Award.
Adrian Houser’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/thickvioletglassfrog
After vomiting on the mound in the first inning, Adrian Houser settled in to have a career-best game, allowing just 3 H over six innings over work, punching out ten. His season ERA is now an even 4.00, and the Brewers are certainly hoping this start represents a turning point for Houser, as they are locked in a particularly fearsome divisional battle.
Patrick Corbin’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/quarrelsomeliquidaruanas
2019 hasn’t been an extraordinarily consistent year for Patrick Corbin, but he’s been very good as a whole. He notched a quality start on Saturday, allowing 2 ER over 6 IP while striking out 8, boosting his K/9 to a very good 10.48. Whether he’s worth all the money the Nationals threw at him is for debate, but you can’t argue that he’s been a great boost to their rotation, and will be a crucial piece of their playoff push.
Tommy Kahnle’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/thoroughportlyhatchetfish
Speaking of great Yankee’s relievers, Tommy Kahnle has also been a big part of the Yankees incredible season they’ve had thus far, though not quite to the degree Ottavino has. Kahnle’s ERA is a very nice 2.98, though his 13.2 K/9 is the key number here. Dude mows down hitters with top level efficiency, as he illustrated with a 1 IP, 3 K outing on Saturday.
Aaron Sanchez’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/embellishednervousdobermanpinscher
Though it’s not quite the no-hitter he helped spin last time he took the mound, Aaron Sanchez continued to be a rock star for his new club, and proved that if the Astros ever come calling on a player, you should immediately decline and figure out what you weren’t seeing in said player. His ERA in Houston is a clean 0.82, with an accordingly absurd 2.45 H/9. Play Sanchez with confidence the rest of the year, purely because it’s been proven impossible for newly-acquired Astros pitchers to fail when healthy.
Kirby Yates‘ Splitter
https://gfycat.com/craftyconventionalabyssiniangroundhornbill
Finally getting the opportunity to be a dedicated closer after six seasons in the MLB, Kirby Yates has established himself as a certifiable force of nature, having one of the best seasons by a reliever in recent history. His 33 saves pace the Senior Circuit, and his ERA is a microscopic 1.16. Toss in a 14.46 K/9, because facing him wasn’t already unfair enough, and it would be an absolute travesty if Yates didn’t bring home the Trevor Hoffman Award at seasons’ end, and he’s making a very strong case for even a Cy Young nod.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Third Quarter Contest.
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