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 and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the First Half. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @ThePitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
Hector Rondon’s Fastball – The Cubs completed a big comeback against the Reds after ruining Brandon Finnegan’s no-hit bid, and Rondon capped it off by striking out the side to seal the ninth. His first punchout came against Jay Bruce with this filthy 95 MPH Fastball that rides back over the plate.
Hisashi Iwakuma’s Splitter – Another week, another Iwakuma GIF as the Japanese import has continued to make batters look silly with what may be the best Splitter in the game. Watch this one start in the middle of the plate before diving well below the strike zone to induce a whiff from Mitch Moreland.
Aaron Nola’s Fastball – Nola fanned a career high nine batters Monday without issuing a walk, due to a healthy mixture of lively Fastballs and big hooks. He was able to freeze right-handers with outside heaters all game, including this beauty to Derek Norris.
Collin McHugh’s Curveball – It was an important bounce back for McHugh yesterday after getting shelled in his 2016 debut. His Curveball was in midseason form as he made Lorenzo Cain look silly to end the first. (Thanks to Reddit user /u/brihoang for the tip!)
Jon Lester’s Cutter – Lester hasn’t been as dominant as we know he can be, though he kept the Cubs in the game and gave them the chance to comeback. He threw some great pitches, like this front-door Cutter to Joey Votto for the backwards K.
GIF Of The Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Half contest.
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