Every morning we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious HD 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 Half Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
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Mike Soroka’s Fastball – Mike Soroka was electric in his season debut, striking out five in six innings. He had nasty movement on nearly all of his pitches, none more than his wicked fastball that gets up into the mid-90’s and has a ton of late drop to it.
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Adam Ottavino’s Slider – While Soroka is making his first appearance on our list, Ottavino is a seasoned vet. It’s easy to see why, with his tornado slider completely fooling Anthony Rizzo, who goes around on a pitch way off the plate inside.
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Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball – It’s physically impossible to throw a rise ball. That may be hard for you to believe after seeing this 100 mile per hour heat from Chapman that climbs up and out of the zone. Wow.
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Justin Verlander’s Curveball – Verlander struck out 14 across eight masterful innings on Tuesday, only to have his win vacated by Ken Giles in the ninth. Perhaps Verlander could have gone longer, as pitch 105 was this beauty to fan Brett Gardner.
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Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball – It was a day where a lot of guys brought out the heat, with Jordan Hicks joining in the fun with this nasty 102 mile per hour cheese that breaks down and in on Tim Anderson.
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Joe Jimenez’s Slider – Jimenez has continued to be a light in an otherwise dark Tigers bullpen. Pitches like this 84 mile per hour bender that are painted right on the outside black should keep him on the up and up. Poor Wilson Ramos offered one of the more pathetic swings you’ll see this year.
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Justin Anderson’s Fastball – Anderson is being talked about as the next closer in Los Angeles, now that Keynan Middleton is on the DL. It’s easy to see the appeal, as Anderson can not only bring 99 mile per hour gas with late run, but he can paint the outside corner with it. That’ll play in the ninth inning juuuuust fine.
GIF Of The Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Half Contest.
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