Every week, we review the nastiest pitches from the previous week in glorious HD GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back on Saturday to see if it will be in contention during the August GIF Tournament. Week 18’s winner was Chaz Roe’s Slider. Another win for Chaz Roe and his looney tunes slider.
Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
Brandon Workman’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/enchantingbiodegradablebrant
Brandon Workman followed Sale’s eight innings of brilliance with a nice outing of his own. Workman’s curveball was sharp, and he used it a lot. Brian Goodwin started off the inning with a strikeout on a pitch that looks like a fastball out of Workman’s hand but ends up hitting the ground before it hits the catcher’s mitt. Filthy stuff from Workman.
Zac Gallen’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/harmonioussillybooby
Making his first start since being inexplicably traded away by the Marlins, Zac Gallen immediately showed the Marlins that they done messed up. He allowed just one hit over five innings of work, striking out six. The great start drops his season ERA to 2.40, making it even more incredible that the Marlins decided they no longer wanted the gifted rookie. The Marlins trading away young, talented pitchers is nothing new, but this one is a real head-scratcher.
Adam Ottavino’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/SelfishUnfoldedGreendarnerdragonfly
Adam Ottavino shut the door on the Orioles for the Yankees. Ottavino pitched two scoreless frames and lowered his ERA to an absurd 1.41 on the season. As always, it was Ottavino’s slider that got the Yankees reliever his nastiest whiff of the night, with Richie Martin on the receiving end of this devastating pitch.
Luis Castillo’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/competentquaintdairycow
Despite swirling rumors, the Reds opted to hold onto their budding ace Luis Castillo, who’s been nothing but dominant since the deadline. In these two starts he’s allowed 9 H over 14 IP, striking out 20 and allowing just 3 ER. His ERA on the season is a glittering 2.63 and has sat in the 2.30’s as recently as July 26, where an ugly outing against the Rockies bumped it up considerably. Castillo is absolutely in the running for the NL Cy Young Award this season, and should continue to be in years to come as the headliner of the Reds’ rotation.
Sonny Gray’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/SplendidAnnualDanishswedishfarmdog
Yesterday, Sonny Gray went out and pitched seven stellar innings. Gray didn’t concede a run as he struck out seven Braves. Although Gray wasn’t credited with the win, his fantastic pitching helped push the Reds over the top yesterday against the NL East leaders.
Dustin May’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/jitterybouncyasiantrumpetfish
A slew of injuries at the major league level aligned the stars for prospect Dustin May to make his major league debut on Friday, with mediocre results. He allowed 3 ER over 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing 9 H though not walking a single batter. May owned a 3.38 ERA over 106 2/3 IP in the minors this season, including a 2.30 ERA in 5 starts at AAA. Things can only go up from here for the 21-year-old, who turns 22 only next month.
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner may be featured in the August GIF Tournament.
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Graphic by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)