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!
Shohei Ohtani’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/concretecandidchuckwalla
Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani was lights out in an 8-0 shutout of the Red Sox, in which he struck out 11 and dazzled with his sensational splitter. This 90 mph beauty made Alex Verdugo wish he was somewhere else.
Adrian Houser’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/fearlessquarterlykentrosaurus
The Brewers piled the misery on the Reds with a 10-5 win at American Family Field on the back of some nasty pitching from Adrian Houser – the best of his night was this 88 mph changeup to ring up Mike Moustakas.
Aaron Civale’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/downrightdisguisedcygnet
It has been a rough start for charismatic Guardians starter Aaron Civale, who has struggled with location and the long ball. Today’s outing was near his best of the season and he had a number of different pitches working for him – none more so than this perfectly located 87 mph cutter with late movement to jelly-leg Zack Collins.
Aaron Nola’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/circularcoldangwantibo
Ouch! An absolutely vicious 91 mph two-seam fastball from Aaron Nola to tie up Eduardo Escobar of the New York Mets inside. Flirting with the body, the horizontal movement bends this comfortably in the top of the strike zone. Plain nasty!
Edwin Díaz’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/brokenfavoriteairedaleterrier
The New York Mets scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to snatch victory from the bowels of defeat against a beleaguered Phillies team. And these days when the Mets are hot, Edwin Díaz is hot! Díaz made light work of the hitters in the ninth, striking out two including Roman Quinn with this delectable 89 mph hard slider.
Jorge López’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/cooperativemealycanvasback
What a way to end it! Orioles closer Jorge López with a nasty 99 mph sinker that shows in the zone just enough for Byron Buxton to nibble at it before scorching high and out of the zone. Lovely stuff.
Shane McClanahan’s Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/remarkabledimwittedchinchilla
Take that, rook! Shane McClanahan blowing a 99 mph heater past young buck Julio Rodríguez was one of the smile moments of the day! The Rays starter giving out the “I’m the boss” medicine here to the upstart Mariner.
Jesús Luzardo’s Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/fatherlycreativegemsbok
The Lizard King is clearly enjoying the balmy weather in Miami more than the torrid cold of Oakland. The lefty dominated once again against the Padres, striking out seven across six innings. This angry 99 mph heater to strike out Jake Cronenworth was a gem.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)