Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. We want to bring you the highest caliber of nastiness possible, so if you see a nasty pitch, please tell us about it. You can tweet @PitcherList to let us know and we’ll give you a shout-out here in the article if your tip makes the cut.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Kyle Wright’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/NegligibleElegantAsianelephant
We begin this Monday morning with the Mets-Braves matchup, in which the 2019 division champs prevailed. Kyle Wright led the way for the Braves pitching staff, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings and striking out 6, including Michael Conforto who went down looking on this sharp sinker that zags over the inside edge of the plate.
Dinelson Lamet’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/HelplessGleefulHuia
It was another dominant start from Dinelson Lamet yesterday, who continues his stellar year. Lamet brought his ERA down to 2.07 with yesterday’s quality start, as the man who’s become one of the most feared arms in the sport struck out 10 hitters. As always, it was Lamet’s slider that caused hitters so much trouble, and it all started on the first batter of the game, when Dylan Moore chased this filthy pitch out of the zone.
Sandy Alcantara’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/FreeTornDinosaur
Sandy Alcantara is a guy who can pitch with some blazing heat. He hits upper-90s on his fastball with ease and his wicked changeup comes in at a furious 91 mph. As if that weren’t tough enough to deal with in the batter’s box, the pitch gets some seriously insane movement. Check out the spin on this beauty that drops under the bat of Brock Holt for a swinging strike three.
John Means‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/FlimsyCorruptAfricanpiedkingfisher
It was a career day on the mound for Orioles southpaw John Means. Means, who fell short of a quality start by one out, struck out a career-high dozen hitters over 5.2 innings, an astounding mark for the young pitcher. Means utilized his breaking stuff to get a bunch of those outs, and here he uses his deadly curve to get Yoshi Tsutsugo swinging and missing for an out.
Ryan Yarbrough’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/SophisticatedBewitchedAngelfish
Pitching against Means, we had Ryan Yarbrough on the mound for the Rays, and while he wasn’t as dominant as his opponent, he certainly pitched very well. Yarbrough went seven innings and struck out eight, using his slow stuff to get whiffs. Here Yarbrough shows off a curve of his own, a 71 mph pitch that fools DJ Stewart for strike three.
Tanner Houck’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/FelineEachKarakul
Tanner Houck looked unhittable yesterday, and I mean that quite literally, as Houck carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Although Houck would lose his no-no bid on a Tyler Wade double, he was making top Yankees’ bats look silly all day. Here he is GIF’d up, making the current MLB home run champ, Luke Voit, look foolish on a beautiful slider.
Jack Flaherty’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/YoungDisastrousKatydid
After an otherworldly second half last season, Jack Flaherty has mostly fizzled out this year. Last year’s dark horse Cy Young contender hasn’t been nearly as good, but yesterday we saw some flashes of brilliance from Flaherty. The young righty tossed six great innings, and struck out 11 hitters, including Bryan Reynolds, who he froze on this fantastic 95 mph dart that dots the edge of the zone for a backwards K.
Carlos Carrasco’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/CluelessHeftyBlackwidowspider
It was a fantastic outing for Carlos Carrasco, whose season has been full of ups and downs. Carrasco tossed seven wonderful innings in which he only allowed one base hit. He also sent down 11 Tigers on strikes, including Willi Castro, who goes fishing out of the zone for a filthy curve he has no shot at for strike three.
Rick Porcello’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/BronzeValidAmethystsunbird
Going back now to the Mets and Braves, we tip our hats to the Mets’ starter Rick Porcello, who tossed seven stunning frames over which he struck out 10, and only allowed one run. It was a bittersweet finish for Porcello, who took the loss, but he certainly pitched his heart out. Here he tosses a filthy front door sinker to freeze Ozzie Albies for a called strike three.
Tony Gonsolin’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/LongBlushingChimneyswift
It was a stellar day on the mound for Tony Gonsolin, who struck out ten Rockies over five innings. Gonsolin, who struck out the first six he faced, looked unstoppable on the mound. Here’s just a taste of what hitters like Raimel Tapia had to deal with. Gonsolin delivers a nasty back foot slider that snaps in on the Rockies lead off man for a swinging strike three. Filthy stuff Tony, filthy stuff.