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!
Tyler Glasnow’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/jubilantyearlychrysomelid
Of all the pitchers going on Monday, we were most excited to see Tyler Glasnow’s season debut. He did not disappoint us, striking out 9 in only 4 innings of work. Included among these strikeouts was this perfectly spotted curveball snapped off to Freddie Freeman. If this is a preview of what’s to come, we are in for a treat this season.
Chris Bassitt’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/blissfulwelloffaxisdeer
Any time a pitcher makes Mike Trout swing and miss like this belongs on this list. Chris Bassitt earned one of the later spots in the Oakland rotation with the injuries to Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk and impressed in his first start of the season. Here he drops a 70 mph down on Trout making him swing over it, his first of 5 strikeouts in 4 innings this start.
Griffin Canning’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/unluckyimpassionediguana
One of the beneficiaries of the delayed season was Griffin Canning, who was scheduled to miss time with tightness in his elbow. He was able to work his way through and be ready for this rescheduled Opening Day and strike out 7 in 4.2 innings of work. Included in these strikeouts was this 93 mph fastball painted on the inside forcing Marcus Semien to be unable to hold up on his swing.
Anibal Sanchez’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/livebriefdonkey
Though Anibal Sanchez did not have the best start to his season on Monday, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings, he did rack up 7 strikeouts. Included in these strikeouts was this splitter to Joe Panik, which had Panik out in front as the well-placed pitch dropped down in the zone.
Josh Osich’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/cleandefenselessgalapagospenguin
I’m going to admit, I did not think that in my first article for this site that I would be mentioning Josh Osich. With the Red Sox rotation in shambles, they needed him to start off the game as an opener, leading over to Zack Godley. Though his two innings of work did not exactly go according to plan, he did make Wilson Ramos look foolish on this slider riding down and in.
Touki Toussaint’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/oblongnegligibleamazontreeboa
It’s good to see Touki Toussaint on the mound after he tested positive for COVID-19 before the season started. Toussaint is part of the Braves quasi-tandem starters experiment in this shortened season and he shows starter stuff with a live fastball, a splitter to get lefties out, and the curveball above. Toussaint’s splitter was just ok last night, but his curve was on point, as Willy Adames is acutely aware after swinging through this beautiful pitch with great depth.
Kendall Graveman’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/scientificgrizzledcutworm
In his Mariners debut, Kendall Graveman showed some flashes in the first inning, touching 97-98 mph with his fastball and striking out the side of George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Alex Bregman. After that things kind of unraveled for him, but that first inning was extremely impressive, setting a foundation for an impressive strikeout total through 4IP. Here we see probably his hardest Ks of the day, a 98 mph fastball that rose to the top of the zone to get Altuve looking.
Wade Miley’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/shortfaintgardensnake
Continuing the trend of players making their debut with a new team was Wide Miley, who just signed a 3-year deal with Cincinnati in the offseason. Though that debut did not go as planned, only lasting 2 innings, Miley did drop this 81 mph changeup to strike out Albert Almora Jr./strong>. (H/T to PL+ member Chris Nichols).
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner may be featured in our Nastiest Pitches tournament midway through the season.
[polldaddy poll=10585094]
Great selection with four pitches tough to choose from. Canning and Graveman both had near perfect locations for their fastballs. Toussaint’s curveball was also near perfectly located. And Bassitt’s curveball had a wicked drop. In the end, I gave the nod to Canning since it was up and in yet still in the zone and had the batter a bit spooked (tougher to execute given the risk of hitting the batter).