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!
Emmanuel Clase’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/animatedshadydodo
After seeing multiple 100+ mph pitches in this at-bat, Whit Merrifield stood no chance once Emmanuel Clase unleashed this devastating slider.
Anthony Bender’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/informalsaltyelephant
I love pitches with a ton of arm-side run, and this is one of them. Anthony Bender has been one of this year’s Nastiest Pitches breakouts. His sinker-slider combo has helped propel him to a 36.4% CSW overall, and he’s one of the most underrated relievers in all of baseball. Miami has themselves a relief ace who is due for a breakout in 2022.
Colin McHugh’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/blacklightheartedafricangroundhornbill
This is such a pretty pitch. He also threw a nasty knee-buckling slider in this game that could have been included, but a painted slider down and away for the looking K is such a difficult pitch to execute. Colin McHugh does it so masterfully here.
J.P. Feyereisen’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/misguidedsmallcuttlefish
Again, arm-side run is my favorite. J.P. Feyereisen does it with ease here, locating this changeup perfectly off the lower corner of the zone as Corey Dickerson swings right through it.
Freddy Peralta’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/barrenneareastrussiancoursinghounds
Freddy Peralta was a popular draft-season sleeper, and boy has he paid off for those who took a shot on him. He earned the “Golden Goal” on Monday night with a 38% CSW on the night, despite a shaky outing where he allowed eight baserunners and three earned runs. Peralta should still be a weapon for Milwaukee in October.
Clay Holmes‘ Sinker
https://gfycat.com/terribleincompatiblecaiman
This demonic sinker from Clay Holmes explodes out of his hand and tries its best to find its way home. With the amount of drop this thing had, Charlie Culberson stood no shot.
Shane Baz’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/fickledisloyalamericanshorthair
As Nick mentioned in today’s roundup, Shane Baz has a legit wipeout slider. Let’s take a looksie here … yuuuuuuup. Tampa Bay is flush with young pitching and it’s not fair.
Huascar Ynoa’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/incomparablethornyhoneyeater
Huascar Ynoa rounds out today’s Nastiest Pitches with this unfair slider that drops off the face of the earth. It was one of only three whiffs on 33 thrown sliders, but that’s good enough for us.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)