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.
Patrick Corbin’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/YellowishScaredJapanesebeetle
As baseball enters the All-Star break this week, Patrick Corbin showed voters why they got it wrong with him. In a dominant performance yesterday afternoon, Corbin struck out 11 over seven innings. The struggling Royals offense stood no chance against Corbin’s slider, as Nicky Lopez learned the hard way on this pitch.
Charlie Morton’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/UnnaturalOddballHarpyeagle
Charlie Morton has just been on fire recently. The Rays pitcher hit double-digit strikeout numbers for the second time this week. Morton’s knuckle-curve was unhittable yet again, this time against arguably the best offense in the AL. Here’s the pitch absolutely fooling Gio Urshela for strike three.
James Paxton’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/HandySpitefulHydra
Morton’s opponent on the mound, James Paxton, also had himself a heck of a day on the mound. Paxton fanned 11 Rays, using his fastball to get hitters swinging and missing in the upper part of the zone. But on this pitch to Willy Adames, Paxton freezes him on a heater that hits the lower inside corner.
Kyle Crick’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/HoarseYellowFlicker
Although it wasn’t the prettiest outing for Kyle Crick, who allowed a two-run bomb to Keston Huira, the Pittsburgh reliever held the lead in the eighth thanks to his signature slider that moves like no other. Here the pitch starts out right over the heart of the plate before it moves in sharply on Yasmani Grandal, who, frankly, had no chance on this pitch.
Kirby Yates‘ Splitter
https://gfycat.com/SlipperyFlatBadger
Kirby Yates didn’t earn his All-Star nomination for nothing. The Padres closer has been lights out this season, sporting an out of this world 1.15 ERA and a league-leading 30 saves. Yates earned that 30th save yesterday against the stalwart Dodgers offense, and he used his disgusting splitter to strike out MVP contender Cody Bellinger.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Quarter Contest.
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