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!
Hunter Greene’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/torndenseeagle
In his MLB debut, Hunter Greene showed why his heater is one of the most vicious pitches in all of pro baseball. Greene, who is known for topping triple digits in his late teens, has finally made it to the big leagues. And he’s already freezing solid hitters like Dansby Swanson, who can only help but stare at this four-seamer that hits 101.
Josh Hader’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/impuredigitalgerbil
Speaking of vicious fastballs that paint the edge of the zone, let’s take a look at this sinker from Josh Hader. Hader is one of the games’ premier closers, and with velocity and command like this, it’s easy to see why. Watch as he effortlessly throws a bullet at 99 mph to freeze Patrick Wisdom on strike three.
Emilio Pagán’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/unfoldedablejellyfish
Traded just a few days ago from the Padres, Emilio Pagán made his Twins’ debut yesterday. It was a flawless inning from the reliever, who struck out two of the three batters he faced. Here he sends Jarred Kelenic down on strikes on a beautiful splitter that drops out of the zone.
Corey Kluber’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/mildoptimisticarchaeocete
Corey Kluber made his Rays debut yesterday, and it went about as good as you could ask for from the aging veteran. Kluber pitched an out shy of five innings, and struck out five hitters, including Trey Mancini who went down swinging at this filthy curve.
Matt Wisler’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/satisfiedsnappykouprey
Sticking with filthy breaking balls from Rays pitchers we’ve got Matt Wisler and this nasty back foot slider that he throws past Rougned Odor. It gets a ton of break and Odor never stood a chance to hit it.
Collin McHugh’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/terrificbriskantelope
Collin McHugh was dazzling in relief yesterday for Atlanta, as he faced seven hitters and struck out five of them. Here, McHugh throws his filthiest pitch of the day, as he brings down the hammer on Tyler Naquin with this powerful curveball.
Marcus Stroman’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/commonunhealthyiberianmidwifetoad
Keeping with the theme of old faces in new places, we’ve got Marcus Stroman in a Cubs uniform for the first time. Stroman was solid in his first Chicago outing, striking out three over five one-run innings. Here he throws his finest pitch of the day and it’s a filthy splitter to Kolten Wong that slips out of the zone.
Devin Williams‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/clearcutsofteasternglasslizard
What would a Nastiest Pitches article be without a Devin Williams changeup? Williams can sling the changeup better than anyone in the Majors and here he does so with ease, as he puts Frank Schwindel down on strikes.
Mitch White’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/crazyalivebrownbutterfly
Mitch White pitched in relief for a Dodgers team that struggled in their first series of the season. There weren’t too many moments that LA will want to remember from this weekend. However, White’s slider that puts C.J. Cron in the spin cycle was a minor bright spot in an otherwise disappointing weekend.
Tanner Houck’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/brighthospitableiberianbarbel
Last but not least, we’ve got a Tanner Houck slider from the first Sunday Night Baseball of the year. Houck slings this slider across the zone to freeze Josh Donaldson for the first out of the game, his first of three strikeouts that he would throw on the night.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Ethan Roberts slider!!!