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!
Julio Urías‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/SpicyEmotionalDevilfish
With all the injuries that have plagued the Dodgers’ pitching early on this season, it’s important that their starters eke out as many innings as possible. Julio Urías did just that yesterday when he went seven innings and struck out 10 while allowing only one run to score. Here he utilizes a nasty curveball that bends over the inside edge and freezes Daniel Vogelbach for a called strike three.
Emmanuel Clase’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/SentimentalSoftElkhound
Another day of nasty pitches means another Emmanuel Clase 100 mph cutter. It seems like Clase can throw this pitch wherever he wants in the zone, but when he hits his targets it’s completely unhittable. And here he does just that, as he gets Leury García swinging at cutter that could not be placed any better.
Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/FirmSlushyGardensnake
If you like triple-digit pitches, then you’re in luck. Following up Clase’s wild cutter we have Aroldis Chapman’s blazing fastball. If you thought 100 mph from Clase was hard to hit, think about stepping in the box against this 102 mph heater. I mean human arms just weren’t built to do things like this, but Chapman defies the odds, blasting one right by Miguel Cabrera to end the game.
Corey Kluber’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/LargeNastyAmurminnow
Unfortunately, that’s all the speed we have for today, but we still have a bunch of nasty pitches left. Let’s go to the beginning of the Yankees game and take a look at Corey Kluber, who pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 10. Kluber was in the zone the whole afternoon and here he uses an absolutely beautiful changeup to strike out Harold Castro.
José Berríos‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/GracefulAltruisticGoat
José Berríos‘ outing against the Royals on Sunday was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand he allowed four earned runs, but on the other hand, he was able to strike out nine opposing hitters. Here we see some of the better stuff from his outing, as he uses his filthy curveball to strike out Michael A. Taylor on a pitch that sweeps out of the zone.
Max Scherzer’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/ImmenseEnergeticInvisiblerail
Max Scherzer had himself a day both on the mound and off. Scherzer was dominant on the mound, striking out nine hitters and only allowing one run. His nastiest pitch of the day was this changeup that dips below the bat of Isan Díaz for a swinging strike three. Scherzer would go on to pitch a complete game and (if you haven’t heard yet) deliver his third child alongside his wife later on in the afternoon. What a day!
Joe Musgrove’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/EvilFlawedChihuahua
Joe Musgrove has had an amazing start to the season, but he struggled against the Giants yesterday afternoon, as he allowed six runs (five earned) to score. Still, Musgrove was able to miss some bats, as he struck out six, including Steven Duggar who went down swinging at this nasty slider.
Lucas Giolito’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/DismalEarnestKoi
Lucas Giolito has been slumping early on in 2021, but yesterday, he looked more like his old self on the mound, striking out eight over 5.1 innings and only allowing one earned run to score. As always, it was Giolito’s changeup that was his premier pitch, and here he used it to induce a nasty swing-and-miss out of Austin Hedges (h/t to PL+ member AnOldOldWoodenShippy).
Rich Hill’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/BonyPreciousArachnid
Rich Hill may be getting up there in age, and he may be struggling this season, but perhaps he still has some more gas left in the tank. Hill looked solid on the mound (albeit over just three innings), as he struck out four batters and only allowed two to reach base. Here he used his signature curveball to get a gorgeous strike out against Myles Straw.
Michael Wacha’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/HotTartGuppy
Finally, we have the man who relieved Hill for the Rays, Michael Wacha. The former Cardinal and Met struggled mightily on the mound, allowing four runs over just 2.2 innings. Here though, he does get to throw a pretty changeup past the bat of Carlos Correa for strike three (h/t to PL+ member Ben Bingham).
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)