Pitcher List was founded on the back of filthy pitches, and we strive to bring you the best of the best every day. However, with over 70+ pitches featured every week, there are a lot to sort through. We ask you, the readers, to vote for your favorite every day, and now is your chance to crown the best of the week.
Every week, we will be featuring the top pitches from each day as voted on by the readers. Then, every Tuesday, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorite for the week. Make your voice heard in the comments, on Twitter, and in our Discord for which pitch you think is the best!
5/24 – Lance Lynn’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/completeuntidyasp
This pitch jumped out at me because I wasn’t aware that Lance Lynn threw a sinker. This thing is Nasty with a capital N. When he pairs this with his cutter… who the h*ck knows where the pitch is ever going to go?
5/24 – Ross Stripling’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/evergreenyellowishgoldeneye
In what was probably Ross Stripling’s best outing of the year, he threw this filthy 88 MPH slider to Mike Brosseau to make him look silly. The pitch only has a 24.8% CSW on the season, the worst in his arsenal actually, but that doesn’t matter for our purposes. This one was executed to perfection.
5/24 – John Means‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/impartiallividisabellineshrike
Speaking of executed to perfection, how about a 79 MPH curveball that painted the corner for a called strike three? No, that’s not Bob Ross, that’s John Means. This pitch is just flat-out gross.
5/25 – Kevin Gausman’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/klutzyvacantlcont
This is the first of two splitters from Kevin Gausman this week. I love the slo-mo from this one which clearly shows off Gausman’s wacky grip on the pitch. Domingo Leyba certainly wasn’t enjoying this pitch as much as we are…
5/26 – Carlos Rodón’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/dimpledspotlessirishsetter
Cy Young candidate Carlos Rodón has only really had two bad starts all season, and coincidentally he’s been featured in Nastiest Pitches four times. Actually, I don’t think that’s a coincidence. He’s been absolutely dealing, especially with his slider which has been his best pitch with a 34.9% CSW. After the struggles he’s had in his career up to this point, it’s wonderful to see him succeeding the way he has been.
5/27 – Alek Manoah’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/actuallegitimatebighornedsheep
The new kid on the block, Alek Manoah, made his major league debut last week and looked like the real deal right out of the gate. This changeup looks like a legitimate pitch and if he can keep this up, look out AL East. We’ll see how the rest of his season develops, but that first impression was fantastic.
5/27 – Shane McClanahan’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/livelyillustriousdodobird
Another young gun, Shane McClanahan, has stormed out of the gate in 2021 and it looks like he has the stuff of a future ace. He threw the nastiest pitch of April (as voted by you) and continues to throw nasty stuff pretty much anytime he takes the mound. Sure, the results have been up and down, but there’s something there and he’s going to be a guy to watch for many years to come.
5/28 – Shohei Ohtani’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/offbeatkeenaruanas
The most exciting player in baseball never ceases to amaze us. Whether it’s with the bat or the ball in his hands it feels like every time he’s on the field he’s doing something special. This splitter from Shohei Ohtani to strike out Mitch Moreland last week was simply unfair.
5/29 – Devin Williams‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/hideousdistinctcollie
Oh man, look at that movement! My jaw dropped the first time I saw this pitch. This is easily one of the best changeups I’ve ever seen Devin Williams throw. Granted, that can be said pretty much any time he takes the mound, but this time I actually mean it! Nasty, filthy, disgusting, this checks all of the boxes for all of the descriptive adjectives. Wow.
5/30 – Kevin Gausman’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/dangerousignorantacouchi
Here’s the second splitter from Kevin Gausman. The camera work isn’t as good but the pitch might be better… that thing falls off the face of the earth. Unreal.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)