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!
Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/fluidmaleafricancivet
Starting off the nastiest pitches from Monday night on a real positive note, Charlie Morton made Adam Eaton look absolutely foolish here. While slowly working himself back from his stint on the Injured List, he finished with three strikeouts in five innings, allowing three runs. Among those three strikeouts was this one to Eaton, on a curveball bearing down and in causing him to jump out of the way as he swung.
Michael Pineda’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/lightheartedtintedgermanspitz
In two starts since coming back from suspension, Michael Pineda has provided a jolt to the Minnesota starting rotation. In this second start back, Pineda went seven innings giving up only two runs while striking out seven. Among those strikeouts was this slider in on Willi Castro, getting him swinging.
Ian Anderson’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/welcomeenchantedchuckwalla
Since coming up from the minors, Ian Anderson has lived up to his prospect hype. While this start was not the longest of his career, only lasting three innings, he did strike out four while working his pitch count up. This strikeout was a great changeup to fellow rookie Jazz Chisholm.
Taylor Rogers‘ Two-Seam Fastball
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Taylor Rogers has been on a roller coaster ride this season, but Monday was one of the peaks of this season, striking out the side in his lone inning of work, finishing off the game against the Tigers. Among these strikeouts was this two-seam fastball painting the inside corner and catching Willi Castro looking, the second time he ended up in this article.
Marco Gonzales‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/carefulkindheartedbedlingtonterrier
Marco Gonzales had his strikeout stuff working on Monday, striking out seven Rangers in his seven innings of work and picking up the win. Gonzales quietly has had a real good season, showing why he got that extension this past offseason. Among his strikeouts was this curveball down and in to Elvis Andrus, getting him swinging over top and continuing his poor season.
Max Scherzer’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/wilddapperdarklingbeetle
It is always fun to watch Max Scherzer at his best, and Monday was among those classic Scherzer starts, going seven innings allowing only one run with eight strikeouts in the win against Tampa Bay. While this curveball did not strike out Kevin Kiermaier, the downward movement on this pitch makes it land on this list, getting Kiermaier to swing overtop, working him right back into the count.
Hyun Jin Ryu’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/cautiousexemplaryammonite
While allowing three home runs in his five innings of work, Hyun Jin Ryu countered that with five strikeouts. One of those strikeouts was this changeup perfectly placed outside, getting Brett Gardner to flail at it hoping to put the ball in play.
Kevin Gausman’s Splitter
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While Zac Gallen dominates the headlines for Pitcher List, Kevin Gausman actually out-pitched Gallen on Monday. Gausman racked up nine strikeouts while only allowing two hits in his six innings of work, picking up the win. Among his strikeouts was this splitter to Wyatt Mathisen, welcoming him to the big leagues with this nastines in his first major league at-bat.
Jonathan Holder’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/belatedmarriedchick
The Yankee bullpen was an absolute disaster on Monday night, blowing a four-run lead in the sixth inning, in the loss to Toronto. The lone bright spot in that pen was Jonathan Holder, not allowing a run in 1.2 innings and striking out two Blue Jays. Among these strikeouts was this changeup to Travis Shaw, down and away and preventing the Blue Jays from cutting into the Yankee lead. (As a Yankees fan this is the last I want to talk about that game).
Dinelson Lamet’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/fixedpopulargrassspider
Dinelson Lamet started off his start right, recording a nasty pitch to the very first batter he faced. He then continued to record nasty pitches throughout the entire night, in his seven innings recording nine strikeouts. The very first of these strikeouts was this slider down and in getting Raimel Tapia to swing through the pitch.
Zac Gallen’s Knuckle-Curveball
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Another start, another spot on the Nastiest Picthes article for Zac Gallen. Unfortunately, his streak of consecutive starts with three or fewer runs ended on Monday, but he still ended up on this article flashing his strikeout stuff with six strikeouts in five innings. This strikeout was a fantastic knuckle-curveball getting Mike Yastrzemski down to one knee in an attempt to hit this pitch.
Kyle Freeland’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/bigheartedforthrighteastrussiancoursinghounds
Kyle Freeland had himself a nice start on Monday night, going six shutout innings with six strikeouts in his no-decision against the Padres. The best of these strikeouts was this slider that ended up going behind Manny Machado, making him look foolish in an effort to preserve the scoreless tie.