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 this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the Fourth Quarter Contest. 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.
Brad Hand’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/terrificexemplarygnu
We weren’t able to showcase one of Hand’s signature sliders (he set the Kansas City Royals down pretty quickly), but this is the Robin to the slider’s Batman. He can rev it to 95 while having very good control over the pitch. Add in his arm slot and it’s no wonder why he has emerged as one of the best closers in baseball. This pitch just eats up Bubba Starling.
Wade Miley’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/coolimmaculatelcont
Of course Miley has been awesome this year after joining the Houston Astros. If you are a pitcher and you struggle with the Astros, you might as well hang ’em up. This NASTY change just tears into Shohei Ohtani—when the helmet comes off, you better believe we at the Nasty Pitches Factory get something similar to a firefighter’s alarm.
Mike Clevinger’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/nippytemptingamericancicada
Well, Clevinger has just been delightful since he came back from injury. Not only are the results great, but he is just a joy to watch on the mount, gyrating/moving all over the place and then firing in unhittable sliders like this one. Without Trevor Bauer, the Indians are relying on him and Shane Bieber to take them to the promised land.
CC Sabathia’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/thankfuloccasionalhochstettersfrog
If you weren’t able to watch at least some of the Dodgers-Yankees game yesterday, I feel for you. That was a playoff game atmosphere in August: New York Yankees fans starting chants and then Los Angeles Dodgers fans drowning them out. The Veteran (CC) pitching against the 70’s-pornstar-looking rookie (Tony Gonsolin). A low-scoring tight one that came down to the wire. This was the game (coupled with football being back) that signaled “playoffs are near” for me.
Taylor Rogers‘ Slider
https://gfycat.com/teemingmarriedhoatzin
Rogers has been fantastic nearly the entire season. Too bad he hasn’t gotten the credit that he deserves. A lefty with 95, a wipeout slider like this one, and decent control is very valuable (see the first guy in this column). He’s going to be very important for the Minnesota Twins during the stretch run and ensuing playoffs.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Fourth Quarter Contest.
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