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 First 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.
Yu Darvish’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/dishonestfearfulgalapagostortoise
Yu Darvish has struggled with his control in the early going, but he still is missing bats with his superlative stuff. This slider to Ozzie Albies breaks across the strike zone so much Wilson Contreras couldn’t come up with it.
Trevor Bauer’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/dentaltensegoosefish
Trevor Bauer was in his usual outstanding form last night except for the lone jam he wiggled out of in the third. Bauer walked the bases loaded but was able to escape with some big breaking balls including this curveball to fool Socrates Brito.
Stephen Strasburg’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/flippantleftastrangiacoral
Stephen Strasburg outdueled Noah Syndergaard on a night where he had all his pitches going. The bottom sharply drops off this changeup that Michael Conforto couldn’t touch.
Noah Syndergaard’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/deepwindinglabradorretriever
Syndergaard and the Mets have started the season running to take the early lead in the highly competitive NL East. On this pitch, Syndergaard and Wilson Ramos weren’t on the same page, but it doesn’t make the break any less impressive. Yan Gomes was left swinging through air.
Jeurys Familia’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/offensiveofficialiraniangroundjay
Jeurys Familia struck out the side using in the eighth against the Nats with a combination of his high-velocity sinker and hard-breaking splitter. This sinker to Adrian Sanchez takes a quick right turn at 96 mph to catch the outside corner.
Brad Hand’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/immediatelawfulbarnacle-baseball
Brad Hand lost the Indians’ combined no-hitter in ninth, and the bullpen was brewing just in case Hand couldn’t finish out the win. Hand spots this back-foot slider so precisely that Brandon Drury was left flat footed and stunned.
Tyler Mahle’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/unknownthirdinchworm
Taylor Mahle pitched six scoreless innings primarily using precise command of his fastball. This pitch is spotted perfectly right over the hands of Starling Marte to get the strikeout.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Quarter Contest.
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