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.
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Chris Sale’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/giantwhimsicalbarnowl
Chris Sale was tasked with opening Boston’s final week as the Sox look to secure a playoff spot. Sale cruised against the hapless Orioles through five strong innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He allowed three runs while striking out six. He got Austin Hays here with a nasty back-foot slider.
Joey Krehbiel’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/glasssoggyamericanavocet
After the Orioles took the lead in the sixth, they sent out Joey Krehbiel to hold off the Red Sox offense in the seventh. Krehbiel struck out the first man he faced, Kyle Schwarber, on a nasty changeup down and away.
Tanner Houck’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/hollowdependentibizanhound
Tanner Houck completed two strong innings out of the bullpen Tuesday though the Sox offense couldn’t muster a comeback after Sale allowed three sixth inning runs. Houck struggles with consistency but has some of the most electric stuff out of the Sox pen. He showed off a nasty slider here to freeze Pat Valaika.
Luis Cessa’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/cooperativetightcreature
Luis Cessa was the first Cincinnati pitcher out of the pen Tuesday as the Reds went with a handful of bullpen arms. Cessa threw two and two-thirds innings and struck out White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal on a great changeup that continued to run away from Grandal.
Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/aridmammothcrayfish
Atlanta and Philadelphia matched up as the two NL East rivals duked it out for the NL East crown. Atlanta came into the day two and a half up with six to play and gave themselves a bit more breathing room on Tuesday. Charlie Morton took the ball for Atlanta and dominated the Phillies lineup. He got Bryce Harper here on his patented curveball.
Zack Wheeler’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/mintyyawningeyra
Zack Wheeler opposed Morton on the hill Tuesday night and turned in a strong performance in his own right. He didn’t quite match Morton’s dominance, but got a whiff here from Travis d’Arnaud on a fantastic running sinker.
Brandon Woodruff’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/tanforthrightbeetle
St. Louis entered Tuesday red-hot and the winners of 16 straight. The NL Central champion Brewers sent out Brandon Woodruff to cool off the Cards as the regular season winds down. Woodruff had a strong, though short, start and made opposing pitcher Adam Wainwright look silly here on a breaking ball. Wainwright would get the last laugh though as the Cardinals extended their streak to 17.
Hyun Jin Ryu’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/secretimpracticalcarp
Hyun Jin Ryu found himself in an early jam and up against the middle of the dangerous Yankee lineup. He was able to escape the first without any damage thanks in part to this cutter that tied up slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
Logan Webb’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/wickedcontentjenny
Logan Webb’s rock-solid consistency continued as the righty turned in another solid start for the first-place Giants. He struck out six on the night and showed off a great sinker here to Ketel Marte.
Trevor Rogers‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/minorwindyfrogmouth
Trevor Rogers started the backend of the doubleheader Tuesday between the Marlins and Mets. The young lefty continued his 2021 success in the nightcap allowing only a single run in five innings. Of his six strikeouts, five came on heaters, but his changeup to Kevin Pillar may have been the best of the bunch.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)