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 Nastiest Pitches of the Season GIF Tournament. 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.
Justin Verlander’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/generalenlightenedbats
Justin Verlander’s results this postseason have been mixed, with a pair of four+ earned-run outings already. It will likely take the Astros reaching the World Series for Verlander to see another outing this postseason, and Houston will need him to bounce back from this rough start against New York. Either way, he has a very strong chance to bring home the AL Cy Young Award.
Zack Britton’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/lonewindyfowl
Zack Britton has been a lockdown arm against the Astros this series, and Friday was no exception. The 31 year-old struck out a pair of Astros over 1.2 innings. Britton has enjoyed a spectacular year, his best since his legendary 2015 campaign, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down yet.
James Paxton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/foolhardyunsightlyirishterrier
You know all those jokes I made this season about James Paxton saving all his good pitching for the playoffs? Well, I may have been on to something. Paxton has been spectacular in the ALCS, working to a 2.16 ERA and 12.96 K/9. As a Mariners fan, seeing Big Maple finally getting an opportunity to show what he can do in the postseason is awesome.
Aroldis Chapman’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/unfitseveralgermanpinscher
The Yankees have only called upon Aroldis Chapman twice in this series, but he’s worked a pair of scoreless innings while striking out four. Chapman was yet another insane reliever this season for the Yankees, something they clearly had no shortage of. He saved 37 games for New York, with a 2.21 ERA and 13.4 K/9, his lowest mark since 2017.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the Nastiest Pitches of the Season GIF Tournament.
[polldaddy poll=10437059]