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.
Zack Greinke’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/rightrecentcattle
Zack Greinke keeps losing velocity as he enters baseball senior citizen status, but he’s still a highly effective pitcher. This extremely slow curveball looks almost like an eephus pitch. The ball seems to be going straight down before it bounces and Josh Bell swings through.
Trevor Bauer’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/devotedimmenseamericanavocet
Trevor Bauer was a little sloppy on the night as he had six walks and trouble finishing off hitters. The stuff was still there though. This slider to Yuli Gurriel has a sharp break as it moves to the outside corner.
Gerrit Cole’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/wickedfarawayamericanwarmblood
Gerrit Cole had 10 strikeouts using his nearly triple-digit fastball and array of breaking pitches to fool hitters all night. Roberto Perez even exclaims in disgust as he is left holding the sword against Cole’s curveball.
Ross Stripling’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/bolddistantlangur
Ross Stripling is getting an extended stay in the rotation and taking full advantage of the opportunity. His standby is a true 12-to-6 curveball that seems to drop from the sky. Daniel Descalso swung through this high-quality curveball for the strikeout.
Kenley Jansen’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/mediumimprobabledromaeosaur
Kenley Jansen isn’t throwing quite as hard these days, but the movement on his pitches is still elite. This cutter to David Bote seems to rise and still cut a bit as it travels to its destination above the strike zone and ends the game.
Luis Castillo’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/unconsciousrareadeliepenguin
Luis Castillo picked on his fellow pitcher, Julio Teheran, and dropped his signature changeup below the zone. You can kind of see where the pitch starts its drop on its path to the plate.
Aaron Nola’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/blandfoolhardyichidna
Aaron Nola deserves a better camera angle so we can see the fade on this changeup to Lewis Brinson more clearly. Nola’s changeup is a great contrast to his two-seamer.
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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