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.
Ryne Stanek’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/PartialPlasticAlbatross
The last time a perfect game was thrown, the year was 2012, and the Rays came pretty close to breaking a seven-year drought yesterday. Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough combined to toss eight perfect innings before the latter surrendered a ground-ball single to the right side. Although there was no history today, we tip our caps to an astounding dual performance, by featuring Stanek’s filthy splitter to Jonathan Villar.
Jacob deGrom’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/MadNaiveCrocodile
Jacob deGrom pitched five great innings and probably would have gone further if it weren’t for a pitch count that was nearing triple digits. deGrom can get you with his fastball and slider, and when he mixes in his changeup, you better be ready. Garrett Cooper learned that the hard way yesterday as he whiffed on this disgusting offspeed pitch.
Masahiro Tanaka’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/DeficientFlusteredAmericanlobster
Fresh off his All-Star appearance last Tuesday, Masahiro Tanaka came out and threw six quality innings. Tanaka utilized his signature splitter to make outs, including on this pitch that drops out on Danny Jansen, as he went down swinging.
Brad Hand’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/FriendlyEasyHare
Brad Hand continued his All-Star season yesterday as he locked down the save against the Minnesota Twins. After a fielding error that allowed a man on first, Hand was lights out, striking each of the following hitters he faced. His nastiest pitch was a slider that just jumps off the plate and into the dirt to get Max Kepler swinging.
Mike Soroka’s Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/NecessaryObviousGrayreefshark
Mike Soroka continued a fantastic season yesterday, as he struck out nine Padres over the course of seven innings to notch his 10th win of the season. Soroka was tossing strikeout after strikeout, and he finished up the night with this beauty of a pitch, a gorgeous two-seamer that jammed Wil Myers.
Adam Morgan’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/RapidTangibleIchidna
Adam Morgan tossed a perfect eighth inning to keep the Phillies and Nationals all knotted up at 3-3 going into the ninth. Not only were the Nats unable to get a hit, they couldn’t even muster up the strength to make contact against Morgan, as they went down in order on strikes.
Jose Berrios’ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/BewitchedIllfatedGonolek
This one was a big pitch for Jose Berrios, as it was the 500th strikeout of his career. And we’re not just including the changeup because of that. No, this pitch is just a good ol’ dirty offspeed offering that got Jake Bauers to reach down and swing at a pitch he had no shot at.
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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