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 September Nastiest Pitches 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
Yu Darvish’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/HastyPlainCondor
Yu Darvish was phenomenal through eight innings yesterday; however, things broke down in the top of the ninth, and he was pulled on the hook for a loss. It was an unfortunate end to a stellar outing by Yu yesterday, but he still managed to strike out 12 opposing hitters and got one of the best swings and misses we’ve seen in a while on this ridiculous slider that runs out of the zone on Miles Mikolas.
Miles Mikolas‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/IllCreamyAlaskajingle
Speaking of Mikolas, the Cardinals starting pitcher put up great numbers himself yesterday. While his strikeout numbers weren’t as gaudy as Darvish’s, Mikolas was still able to pull off a few nice strikeouts while limiting the Cards’ fierce rivals to just a single run. Mikolas used his devastating curveball on this offering, one that just nibbles at the bottom edge of the zone to freeze Ben Zobrist.
Luis Severino’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/AlarmedBlankAntlion
Luis Severino’s return has been a timely one for the Yankees. With Dellin Betances and Domingo German both missing time (albeit for very different reasons), Sevy will need to jump right back into a huge role for the Yanks. Yesterday, he did just that, striking out nine over five frames, including Billy McKinney, who went down on strikes for the first out of the game on Severino’s filthy back-foot slider.
Josh Hader’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/BaggyCapitalCaimanlizard
Few relievers in Major League Baseball have a nastier fastball than Josh Hader. Hader’s heater ranks sixth in pVAL among all relievers and induces swinging strikes at an absurd 22% clip. Here, Hader’s victim is Jose Osuna, who has no chance of hitting this 97 mph beauty that runs right by him on the upper inside corner.
Logan Webb’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/SlimyTeemingHellbender
Logan Webb was solid on the mound yesterday as he tossed six more-than-quality frames, allowing just two base hits and only one run to cross home plate. Webb also fanned seven opposing Braves, who all had trouble with Webb’s vicious slider. On this offering, Webb’s go-to strikeout pitch runs in and jams perennial MVP candidate Freddie Freeman for strike three.
Yu Darvish’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/UnlawfulUnsungGroundbeetle
Darvish’s performance was so electric yesterday that it warranted two features in today’s article. Here, on this splitter, Darvish registers what would be the first of a dozen strikeouts. Dexter Fowler flailed in futility at a 90 mph pitch that Darvish executes to perfection for strike three.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the September Nastiest Pitches GIF Tournament.
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