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 Second 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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Corey Kluber’s Two-Seamer – Klubot picked up a ridiculous 44.7% CSW (17-of-38) with his two-seamer, freezing Tampa’s Jake Bauers with this fourth-inning fastball. He also brought the filth with his curveball—even sans facial hair. Unfair.
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Luis Severino’s Slider – Sevy picked up 16 whiffs spread across his three pitches, and his slider spearheaded things with six swinging strikes induced. This dive-bombing breaker to Detroit’s Jeimer Candelario stood as a shining example of its nastiness.
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Jordan Hicks‘ Sinker – The Cardinals rookie was at it again Friday with this ruthless 102 mph fastball to Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suarez. Hicks walked his usual tightrope but kept the Reds off the board in his 0.2 innings.
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Blake Treinen’s Cutter – Treinen sported his usual grimy sinker, but this inside cutter to Ben Gamel (which followed the same flight path, save for the sinker’s last-second bite) started at the shoulders and dropped below the knee to take down the Seattle outfielder.
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Aaron Sanchez’s Changeup – Sanchez at times showed the silly movement he’s known for, though he only drew four swinging strikes on 82 pitches. Still, this darting off-speed offering brought Miami’s Derek Dietrich to a knee.
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David Robertson’s Curveball – The Yankees reliever grabbed his fifth save and almost Odubel’d Victor Reyes‘ helmet off his head in the process with this devastating knuckle curve to finish off the Tigers.
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Jameson Taillon’s Slider – Taillon showed Ronald Acuna Jr. who’s boss on this scythe-like slide piece for the whiff. The Pirates righty picked up seven K’s in seven innings and turned opposing starter Anibal Sanchez into a statue with his hook at one point.
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Zack Greinke’s Slider – The D-backs ace wiped out Manny Machado with this breaker, as the Dodgers shortstop looked dejected while finally deciding to drop to one knee. (H/t to our Ben Palmer for the spot.)
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Half Contest.
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