Every morning, we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back to see if it will be in contention during our August Nastiest GIF Tournament. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList, and we’ll GIF it up and give you a shoutout here in the article.
Trevor Bauer’s Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/orangescarylemur
Though the camera angle does this pitch no favors, readers of Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik’s MVP Machine will know this pitch as the “Luminar Express.” Trevor Bauer’s lab-developed two-seamer has ridiculous movement coming back to the zone, and that’s no accident. Travis Jankowski is left frozen for the third time of the at-bat.
Hector Rondon’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/mildellipticalhochstettersfrog
Hector Rondon has fallen down the depth chart in the Astros bullpen this year, but he still had great stuff that leaves hitters like Brandon Dixon baffled. This slider at 88 MPH moves all the way across the zone before landing on the outside black. Bonus cut of Dixon’s reaction included for laughs.
Zac Gallen’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/unselfishsparseafricanrockpython
Zac Gallen pitched about as well as can be asked while giving out 6 free passes to first base. Gallen got out of jams by missing bats over and over. This changeup to Ryan McMahon isn’t particularly nasty at first glance, but the slow-motion cut shows the filthy late drop that Gallen manipulates the ball to create.
Jose Alvarado’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/giantidioticbanteng
Jose Alvarado is off the IL and almost back to his old self. His velocity is down a touch, so his fastball only sits mid-to-upper 90s as opposed to hovering around triple digits, but that is more than enough to keep hitters on their toes. Dan Vogelbach was geared up for the fastball on this pitch, but he gets the slider and ends up way out in front as the ball moves laterally across the zone.
Diego Castillo’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/tidyinformalgraywolf
Diego Castillo has lost some fantasy luster in recent weeks as he has been used more as an opener, but his stuff is still GIF-able almost every time he pitches. Castillo pitched in relief of the faltering Brendan McKay and used mostly his sinker to retire the side. Tim Lopes didn’t have enough time to make a good decision on this pitch that he thought might land out of the zone that ended up well into the outside third of the strike zone.
Dakota Hudson’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/frightenedfaintblueandgoldmackaw
Dakota Hudson has a high-powered arsenal of pitches that are almost impossible to hit when he has everything working. He had everything working last night including an impressive slider thrown hard but also with sharp break. Lorenzo Cain sees a fastball in the middle of the zone before the balls breaks away from the plate sharply.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner may be featured in the August GIF Tournament.
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