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 Second 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.
Yonny Chirinos‘ Splitter
https://gfycat.com/NaughtyFarawayFish
Yonny Chirinos’s is an underappreciated “Nastiest Pitches” contestant. It seems every time he pitches he has 2 or 3 (or 6) pitches that could make it on this list. This splitter to Max Kepler disappears as it gets to the plate. Phenomenal location and movement.
Mike Soroka’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/KaleidoscopicOffbeatJumpingbean
Soroka has been off to an incredible start to his season (and career); Saturday’s game was the first outing that he allowed more than one earned run. He’s become a mainstay in the Atlanta rotation, which is good news for us as his slider + multiple fastballs make up a very nasty repertoire.
Brad Hand’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/GentleImpartialHornedviper
Francisco Mejia was optioned to AAA over the weekend. While we can never judge trades this early, the Mejia –Brad Hand/Adam Cimber trade has started off very well for the Indians. Since coming over in the middle of July last year, Hand has been one of the game’s best closers – this slider makes Tim Anderson looks foolish.
Jacob DeGrom’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/ThriftyFlawlessAustraliancurlew
Well, it looks like Jacob DeGrom is back. Over his past 3 starts the reigning NL Cy Young has spun a 2 ERA/1.08 WHIP combo with a strikeout per nine. Oh, and he hasn’t gotten a W in a single one of those 3 starts. Classic Mets . (Thanks to @skyehigh_24 for the tip!)
Tanner Rainey’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/unfinishedoptimalarmadillo
Well well well… The Nationals may have an interesting bullpen piece (outside of the man himself, Sean Doolittle). During the offseason we witnessed the Tanner trade – Tanner Rainey for Tanner Roark. Rainey may have been an afterthought then, but he is turning into a needed piece in the worst bullpen any of us have seen. If he keeps throwing sliders like this (and his high 90s heat), he’s got a real good shot to stick.
Justin Verlander’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/AptSilentCrustacean
Uhm, I needed something other than a slider to finish off this Nastiest Pitches edition. So here’s Justin Verlander’s curveball. It’s a good pitch. He’s a good pitcher. The Astros are good, and they won last night. Good? Good.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Quarter Contest.
[polldaddy poll=10333762]