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!
José Berríos‘ Sinker
https://gfycat.com/PracticalAthleticHamster
José Berríos had himself a day on the mound as he tossed seven stellar innings, over which he allowed just one run and struck out 11. Berríos had several pitches that we could’ve gone with, but it’s this filthy front door sinker to Willi Castro that earns the top spot on today’s Nastiest Pitches.
Devin Williams‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/AmusedQueasyIridescentshark
Devin Williams‘ Changeup. The Airbender. What else is there to say at this point that hasn’t been said before about this pitch? Any commentary would be redundant, so I’ll leave you with one word: Wow.
Dylan Cease’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/HandmadeInbornArabianhorse
Dylan Cease had a great outing yesterday as he tossed 11 strikeouts across six dominant frames. Cease was in control with his heater all day, and it shows here. Watch as Cease paints the outer edge of the zone with precision for a backwards K to Ian Happ (H/T to PL+ member Ben Bingham).
Michael Kopech’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/HonestYearlyCoyote
Dylan Cease isn’t the only White Sox pitcher that can throw heat. Michael Kopech one-upped Cease in velocity, touching triple digits on this rising fastball that induces a swing and a miss from Andrew Romine.
Tanner Houck’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/ParchedFarflungDeviltasmanian
Tanner Houck didn’t allow a hit for the first five innings of yesterday’s Boston-Cleveland matchup. And although he and the Red Sox pen fell apart from the sixth onwards, we pay tribute to a very impressive five innings of baseball with Houck’s first out of the night. It’s a sweeping slider that induces a swing and a miss from Amed Rosario and oh boy, it is filthy.
Eli Morgan’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/SpiffyFaintDragon
Eli Morgan might have had a bad start, but he has a filthy changeup that could really trip some hitters up. Here the victim is J.D. Martinez and he goes down on a filthy offspeed pitch that drops out on him as he swings and misses.
Mitch White’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/PhonyBothAlaskankleekai
Mitch White gave up a three-run jack in the first inning that decided the game early on, and although he was on the hook for the loss, he was still able to toss six strikeouts over just 3.1 innings. Here, White paints the bottom corner with the hammer to get a called strike three.
Chris Archer’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/GargantuanSpeedyCorydorascatfish
Chris Archer got a bunch of strikeouts with his slider yesterday over his four innings on the mound. Archer was dealing with the pitch and here he gets Cedric Mullins swinging out of the zone for strike three.
Jesús Luzardo’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/DarlingDrearyAsp
Jesús Luzardo pitched phenomenally for the Marlins yesterday throwing six one-hit innings as he picked up the win. Luzardo tossed eight strikeouts and none were filthier than this curve that sweeps across the zone to get Joey Votto swinging at strike three.
Emmanuel Clase’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/HiddenMelodicAtlanticbluetang
Similar to Williams’ changeup, this pitch needs no introduction. Watch in disbelief as Emmanuel Clase absolutely freezes Rafael Devers on a back door cutter for a called strike. There’s no other word to describe this one besides nasty.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)