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 First 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.
Gerrit Cole’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/GleamingFearfulAfricanwilddog
This pitch is even nicer when you look at the sequencing, as it followed a 98 MPH fastball high in the zone. Still, even on its own, Gerrit Cole’s nasty knuckle curve fools Jorge Soler, en route to a nine strikeout performance against the Royals, his 6th 9+ K performance in 8 outings thus far.
Max Scherzer’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/ExemplaryOpulentAdder
It’s been a tumultuous start to the season for the future Hall of Famer, as his one earned run allowed on Monday being the fewest ER’s he has allowed in a start since April 2. Grandal didn’t stand a chance on this offering, which gave Scherzer one of his 10 K’s on the evening.
Blake Snell’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/WhimsicalHandyAndeancondor
Not new: Blake Snell being prominently featured in the Nasty Pitch roundup.
New: Blake Snell being featured for a pitch outside of his curveball.
Granted, I could have picked any number of his curveballs from Monday, but I thought this changeup to put John Ryan Murphy away was not only extraordinarily nasty in its own right and deserving of a spotlight, but also a nice change of pace from the storm of praise for his curveball he’s gotten in the past and will continue to get going forward. Snellzilla’s more than just a pretty curveball, y’all.
Sergio Romo’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/ComfortableSmoothHumpbackwhale
This slow, slow offering from the 36-year-old Sergio Romo seems to hover in on Rizzo, who’s left flailing over the plate at God-knows-what speed. While his 5.73 ERA thus far is rather unsightly, Romo should be able to continue being an effective and wily reliever as he inches closer to 40 if he continues throwing filth like this.
Trevor Bauer’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/EasyFairBedbug
This was an atrocious start for the usually impeccable Indians ace, but it certainly wasn’t without its bright spots. Exhibit A: Back-to-back sliders to K Jose Abreu, starting with this gorgeous pitch outside. Trevor Bauer should have his A-game stuff with him his next time out, and should produce even more highlight reel worthy pitches against the A’s.
Jacob DeGrom’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/SeparateUniqueEider
We were treated to a veritable pitching duel in San Diego on Monday, with Chris Paddack eventually prevailing over the reigning NL Cy Young winner. Seven Friars went down via the K against Jacob DeGrom, but this gorgeous dropping slider to finish off Manny Machado for his first K of the game is vintage DeGrominator.
Chris Paddack’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/ObeseTerrificGoldenmantledgroundsquirrel
This one was nearly the headliner of the article, because holy smokes is it a beauty. Chris Paddack’s career magnum opus so far, an 11 K win against the Mets was chock-full of spectacular pitches, was easily enough to fill an entire Nasty Pitch roundup on its own. So please, don’t get too mad at me if I didn’t pick your favourite ridiculous Paddack pitch. Leave the anger to Lagares, who’s left looking like countryman Julio Santos by the 23-year-old Padres phenom.
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I’d say that 5 of these pitches would get my vote on most other days (Cole, Snell, Paddack, deGrom, Scherzer). Yesterday was absolutely awesome for nasty pitches.