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.
Luis Castillo’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/competentquaintdairycow
Despite swirling rumors, the Reds opted to hold onto their budding ace Luis Castillo, who’s been nothing but dominant since the deadline. In these two starts he’s allowed 9 H over 14 IP, striking out 20 and allowing just 3 ER. His ERA on the season is a glittering 2.63 and has sat in the 2.30’s as recently as July 26, where an ugly outing against the Rockies bumped it up considerably. Castillo is absolutely in the running for the NL Cy Young Award this season, and should continue to be in years to come as the headliner of the Reds’ rotation.
Jacob Waguespack’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/mintybarrenhornshark
Since making his MLB debut on May 27, Jacob Waguespack has quietly been respectable, albeit unspectacular in seven games for the Blue Jays. Monday’s outing against the Rays was his best thus far, allowing just 4 H over 6 shutout innings. Waguespack has never been the most highly touted player coming up through the Jays’ and Phillies’ systems, but hopefully he can continue to make solid contributions at the major league level.
Mike Soroka’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/fluffywhisperedblackrussianterrier
Expectations for Mike Soroka were high coming into 2019 and he’s absolutely obliterated said expectations for the first-place Braves, owning a 2.45 ERA over 121 IP with a sterling 10-2 record. This years’ NL Rookie of the Year race will be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory, with Soroka, Alex Verdugo, Pete Alonso and Fernando Tatis Jr. all owning legitimate claims to the crown. Soroka should fall right in line with Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. as the young guns who should lead the Braves into a long stretch of prosperity, not even mentioning the wealth of talent they STILL have cooking in the minors.
Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/wholephysicalcaiman
It’s a shame Blackmon already took the nickname Chuck Nazty, because it would be so, so fitting for Charlie Morton. Like a Tempranillo, Morton seemingly only gets better with age, posting a 2.77 ERA and 10.95 K/9 in the midst of his age-35 season, by far his best (and healthiest) season as a pro. The Rays are fighting for a Wild Card spot as it stands, and there are few players as crucial to said run as Charlie Morton right now.
Mike Minor’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/warpedbowedangwantibo
For whatever reason, the Rangers opted to hold onto Mike Minor at the trade deadline, even as the 31 year-old likely sits at the peak of his value with a 3.06 ERA that sat squarely below the 3-mark before a pair of poor outings against the Mariners. Watching his career revival over the last three seasons has been incredible, and his first All-Star appearance this season was well, well deserved.
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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