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.
Chaz Roe’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/SecondhandDisgustingBadger
In today’s edition of “Who Can Make Contact With Chaz Roe’s Slider?” we get to see Lourdes Gurriel Jr. give it his best shot. But unfortunately for the Blue Jays youngster, he didn’t only lose a teammate to the Mets yesterday, he also lost his pride when he fell victim to the filthiness that is Roe’s best pitch.
Stephen Strasburg’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/kindlybouncyeft
If there were any doubts about Stephen Strasburg coming into this year after an injury-shortened 2018, they are gone. Strasburg picked up win No. 14 of the season against the stalwart Los Angeles Dodgers, who hold the best record in MLB. Strasburg struck out nine batters and only surrendered one run, making stars such as Corey Seager look like they belong in Single-A.
Aaron Nola’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/ConsiderateBoringFanworms
Keeping things in the NL East, we’ve got a disgusting knuckle-curve courtesy of Aaron Nola. The Phillies ace might have given up four earned runs, but he was still able to strike out eight batters and nab the win. You can just feel Brian McCann’s pain as he attempts (in futility) to make contact with a pitch that drops out of the zone on him.
Matt Boyd’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/CleverMinorBassethound
If there’s one bright spot in the Tigers’ future it’s Matt Boyd (unless, of course, he’s traded before July 31). Boyd has been stellar this year as he lowered his xFIP to 3.34 and raised his K/9 to 12.11. Boyd owes a lot of his success to his slider, which he uses here to strike out Ryan Court.
Aaron Sanchez’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/vainpeacefulindianjackal
Aaron Sanchez made franchise history yesterday by striking out the first six batters he faced in order, a new Blue Jays record. Sanchez used a mix of his fastball, curveball, and changeup to accomplish the unlikely feat, but we’re going to highlight the third of those pitches as Sanchez’s nastiest. Watch above, as he finesses the pitch to induce a swinging strike from Tommy Pham.
Kyle Gibson’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/responsibleflimsyhyrax
Twins fans will probably talk more about the four home runs they hit yesterday as they chase the all-time team home run record (Spoiler: They’re probably going to crush it). But this ain’t a column dedicated to demolishing dingers! This is all about nastiness, and Kyle Gibson did not disappoint on this absolutely crushing slider that drops out on Yoan Moncada just as he whiffs at it.
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.
[polldaddy poll=10373838]
If Chaz Roe is on the list….he has to win. Every time I wana mix it up and not vote for him I watch that replay over and over, and I just HAVE to vote for that slider. It’s insane. He almost should be disqualified.