Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Blake Snell’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/concreteinsistentechidna
Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell set up the win today with a fantastic performance that brought the best out of his four-pitch arsenal (four-seamer, slider, curveball, and changeup) — my favorite was this perfect 89 mph slider to dispose of Max Muncy in the fourth inning.
Tony Gonsolin’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/jauntyhilariousgraysquirrel
The command and movement on this 84 mph split-finger changeup from Tony Gonsolin, which totally freezes Ji-Man Choi, are just delightful. This is the pitch we are all excited about as he develops and battles for a starting spot in the Dodgers rotation.
Peter Fairbanks’ Four-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/idlegoodhorseshoecrab
This is a lightning bolt from Peter Fairbanks — a 100 mph heater full of juice to blow away Chris Taylor for the strikeout. Have some of that!
Joe Kelly’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/informalsmoothglowworm
You either love him or you hate him, but Joe Kelly has a wicked knuckle-curveball. This 86 mph projects way outside before pinching back into the strike zone on the far outside of the plate to fell Kevin Kiermaier. Ripper!
Diego Castillo’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/delayeddependablebagworm
Diego Castillo is ice-cold cool, coming into the ball game with a 6-4 lead to get the final out and he does it on three pitches. The best of them was this incredible 98 mph two-seamer with extraordinary movement and velocity. Wow! Chris Taylor had no chance.
Nick Anderson’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/scrawnywillingandeancondor
The Rays have a phenomenal bullpen, one of the key reasons they have made it this far. Nick Anderson is a stud. Here is his primary pitch, an 84 mph curveball that disappears on pinch-hitter Edwin Ríos.
Jake McGee’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/sademinentgar
Jake McGee threw just 10 sliders all year. So, of course, he throws this unhittable 82 mph slider to Randy Arozarena in the World Series. Legend!
Diego Castillo’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/gloriousnegligiblebarnowl
…and how about a nasty pitch to end the game? It’s Diego Castillo with his signature slider, a 90 mph beauty that tails away from Chris Taylor to end the ball game and tie the series at 1-1. Excuse the intro face close-up and final check-swing call, we like a bit of drama!