Every morning we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious HD 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 Second Half Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
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Chris Sale’s Slider – Sale’s 18 swinging strikes (12 on his slider) propelled him to nine K’s on 99 pitches as the Red Sox became the first team to 70 wins this year. Detroit’s JaCoby Jones offered at this one but probably wishes he didn’t—as it ended up behind his back foot.
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Mike Foltynewicz’s Fastball – Folty put the freeze on Bryce Harper, as this 98 mph heat took a last-second turn over the inner half for the called strike and a look of disbelief from the Nats outfielder.
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Chris Archer’s Slider – Mr. two-pitch pitcher himself (yeah, we know he has a changeup) rode 14 missed bats on his slider to 13 total strikeouts. He had his signature out pitch working early against the Marlins, making Derek Dietrich kiss the ring and kneel in the first inning.
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Colton Brewer’s Curveball – Does Odubel Herrera’s helmet have its own Twitter handle? It should, because it has a mind of its own, seemingly popping off its owner’s head at least once per game. It decided to stay in place this time—barely. Regardless, Brewer’s hook found its way southward in a hurry for the swing-and-miss and a cockeyed look from the Phillies outfielder.
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Ryne Stanek’s Changeup – Stanek pulled the string on Miami’s J.T. Realmuto for the seventh-inning strikeout, keeping the deficit at three runs and giving the Rays a chance to come back and walk it off on a Daniel Robertson home run.
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Jake Petricka’s Two-Seamer – The Blue Jays reliever rocked some two-plane break at 96 mph to leave Baltimore’s Tim Beckham off balance and whiffin’.
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Drew VerHagen’s Curveball – Rafael Devers likely lost sight of this VerHagen hook as it dropped from his shoulder to his ankles for the prodigious whiff.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Half Contest.
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