Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Camilo Doval’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/assuredhelpfulafricanporcupine
Young San Francisco Giants closer Camilo Doval knows how to close out a ball game! How about a vicious 101 mph cut-fastball touching the outside edge of Daniel Vogelbach’s strike zone? Yes, sir! That is nasty!
Patrick Sandoval’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/euphoricafraidcockerspaniel
The genius behind this pitch was the set up from Angels new-found ace Patrick Sandoval. The lefty was masterful working the top of the strike zone against hitters all day long and in this battle with Taylor Trammell, he induced a couple of foul balls off high fastballs before coming back with this gorgeous 87 mph slider. The Mariners outfielder was eventually fooled into leaving a pitch that looked to be going high and inside but nestled beautifully in the zone for the K.
Johnny Cueto’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/eminentpleasantlamprey
Veteran Johnny Cueto rolled back the years with a virtuoso performance across seven sublime innings in which he allowed just two hits and struck out five. The best of them was this 85 mph changeup to brush aside one of baseball’s best hitters, Yordan Alvarez. A nice way to pick up your first win of the season, Johnny.
Jameson Taillon’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/foolisholdfashionedhoiho
Jameson Taillon was simply phenomenal for the Yankees in their 4-0 shutout of the Blue Jays. This exquisite 96 mph over-the-top two-seam fastball on a 3-2 count to strikeout Bo Bichette was one of the best pitches I saw yesterday.
Michael King’s Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/heftydeepapisdorsatalaboriosa
Helping his mate out, Michael King came in to relieve Taillon in the sixth inning in a real hole. Cue this devastating 98 mph heater than starts outside and jelly-legs Teoscar Hernández before finishing up well inside the strike zone. Elite stuff!
Taijuan Walker’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/smoggyquaintblackfootedferret
The Mets have been blessed with their starting pitching depth this season and one of the unsung heroes is veteran Taijuan Walker. The journeyman starter struck out nine across 6 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win of the season. This beautifully located split-finger fastball to strikeout Jorge Soler was a highlight of the outing. Hat tip to PL+ member nvita for the spot on this one.
Aaron Nola’s Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/plushaffectionategnu
When he’s on, he’s on! Aaron Nola showed supreme command of his fastball throughout another dominant performance for the Phillies in their 2-1 win over the Nationals. Slugger Josh Bell knew he got a beauty with this 95 mph heater that painted the outside corner low and away.
Kutter Crawford’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/cleanmisguidedbrahmancow
It’s all in the name! Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford living up to his title with this delightful 91 mph cut-fastball inside to jam up Brendan Donovan and sending him packing. A nasty pitch with potential that we need to keep an eye on.
Dylan Bundy’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/violetcostlyfeline
Criminally underrated by the broadcast teams of the Twins and Diamondbacks, this luscious 79 mph changeup up from Dylan Bundy to strikeout Daulton Varsho didn’t even earn a replay. Well, don’t worry Dylan, we here at Pitcher List will always recognize game!
Germán Márquez’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/vastmasculineatlanticbluetang
There are not many hard knuckle curveballs around these days but Rockies ace Germán Márquez possesses the best one in baseball – as demonstrated by this nasty 88 mph knuckle curve that fells Jurickson Profar.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)