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 Playoffs 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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Gerrit Cole’s Curveball – The Astros starter was off his game Sunday night, giving up four earned runs in six innings. But he still sported filthy stuff at times in striking out five. Christian Vasquez was on of those victims on this third-inning breaker.
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Matt Barnes‘ Curveball – Barnes has carried the Boston bullpen lately, and he’s done it on the strength of his hook. He threw four straight curves to Marwin Gonzalez for a called strike, foul and two whiffs, including this one to end the fifth.
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Josh James‘ Fastball – The rookie threw a slew of tailing fastballs at 99 mph and above, including one to get Jackie Bradley Jr. swinging. This one to Mitch Moreland had a bit more movement, though, so it takes the spot as James’ representative fastball on a night filled with ridiculous heaters.
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Ryan Brasier’s Two-Seamer – Brasier worked a scoreless seventh despite walking Alex Bregman later in this at-bat, but before he did so, he fired in this beautiful tailing fastball for the looking strike.
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Lance McCullers’ Curveball – McCullers was all over the place in the seventh, walking Mookie Betts and sending him on an odyssey around the basepaths on a wild pitch and two passed balls. But all that movement meant four whiffs on 11 knuckle curves thrown, including this one to strike out J.D. Martinez.
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Rick Porcello’s Curveball – Boston manager Alex Cora had to turn to Porcello for some short relief again, and the most-of-the-time starter delivered with a clean inning, including swinging strikeouts of Gonzalez and Carlos Correa. Though he ultimately got Correa whiffing with a slider, Porcello got the drop on him here with a magnificent curve.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Playoffs contest.
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