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.
Matt Boyd’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/jubilantalienatedarthropods
Matt Boyd struck out 13 White Sox hitters to get the win last night primarily using his fastball but also mixing in sliders such as this one with great lateral movement to Jose Abreu. With the trade market primed to start heating up, Boyd’s performance may put him on the top of the list of starting pitchers available before the trade deadline.
Luis Castillo’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/carefreesimilararizonaalligatorlizard
Luis Castillo was magnificent yesterday and had a great chance at a no-hitter and then a complete-game shutout before rain ended his night. As always Castillo’s changeup was his best tool to strike out hitters. Castillo’s changeup has such ridiculous lateral movement, especially when he takes off a little bit of velocity that helps the pitch fade away from lefties. Ben Gamel is right that this pitch is off the plate, but the nastiness is still undeniable.
Jose Berrios’ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/dampagonizingestuarinecrocodile
It’s questionable whether Berrios will be able to fully harness his top-of-the-line stuff and pitch more consistently throughout a season. The Twins are highly likely to be in the playoffs this year and Berrios has the potential to lead a playoff rotation, but he isn’t ready yet to take the Twins to the next level.
Tanner Anderson’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/blushingacrobaticgoosefish
Tanner Anderson’s slider reminds me of Alex Colome’s slider because each one has a sharp downward movement. Sliders come in different shapes and speeds. Anderson’s slider has more lateral movement and is also an effective out pitch. Jorge Polanco looked foolish as he missed this pitch by a large margin.
Yonny Chirinos‘ Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/tastyorderlyharrier
Yonny Chirinos was amped and ready to go against the first-place Yankees yesterday. Chririnos threw one of his hardest fastballs of the night to strike out the leadoff hitter, the en fuego DJ LeMahieu. LeMahieu gives up on this two-strike pitch early and then watches the break on the ball bring it to the middle of the plate. Mesmerizing movement.
Reynaldo Lopez’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/spectacularwearyfunnelweaverspider
Reynaldo Lopez is another inconsistent young starter yet to put it all together and pitch to his assumed potential. Lopez threw this impressive changeup with late downward movement to get the swinging strikeout. Jordy Mercer was way out in front of a pitch at 89 mph that Mercer tried in vain to foul off.
Andrew Miller’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/plainunderstatederin
Andrew Miller still has a great sweeping slider that eats up lefties like old-school Cookie Monster eating cookies, and he used it last night to get the Cards out of a tight jam. Omar Narvaez’s flailing swing at this Miller slider almost caused Narvaez to lose his helmet Carlos Gomez-style. Miller was amped to get a well-deserved hold.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Quarter Contest.
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