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 GIF of the Second Quarter Contest. 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.
Max Scherzer’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/solidpoisedjumpingbean
The way Max Scherzer popped off against the Phillies offense, you wouldn’t be able to tell he broke his own nose on Tuesday if he wasn’t sporting an impressive black eye on the mound. Striking out 10 batters over seven innings of work, Scherzer brought his season ERA down to 2.62, which ranks among the top five in the National League.
Trevor Richards‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/unhealthyrequiredandeancat
Scherzer’s eye might have been ugly, but it pales in comparison to the awful swing Trevor Richards elicited from Dexter Fowler here. Richards’ eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work were a great bounce back from an awful prior start against the Pirates, and his season ERA sits at a highly respectable 3.54, helping support Miami’s pitching staff that currently ranks 14th in the MLB in ERA, just a season after finishing 25th.
Craig Stammen’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/physicalraggedastrangiacoral
Craig Stammen has quietly been a spectacular reliever with the Padres, sporting a 3.10 ERA and a 3.82 K/BB ratio. While his 2019 hasn’t been spectacular by any means, he does own a 3.00 ERA on the year outside of a four earned run meltdown against the Nationals on June 9.
Blaine Hardy’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/frightenedevilgrayreefshark
It’s been a rough year for Blaine Hardy and the Tigers thus far (a 4.40 ERA and a .371 win percentage, respectively), but we do at least get this spectacular highlight courtesy of Jung Ho Kang. Hardy’s pair of shutout innings on Wednesday marked just his ninth hitless outing of the year, though hopefully for Detroit the 32 year-old veteran can turn things around.
Chris Bassitt’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/fragrantcluelessbobolink
Chris Bassitt has been a very pleasant surprise both for the Athletics and his fantasy owners, his 5.2 innings of two-run ball dropping his season ERA to 3.64 and boosting his K/9 to 8.8. It’s been a long road for Bassitt, who made his debut back in 2014 with the White Sox, but he appears to be really putting things together this season, so long as he can keep the walks down.
Bonus Fact: As a giant middle finger to those in quality start leagues, Wednesday marks Bassitt’s third start of the season being pulled at 5.2 innings pitched.
Luis Cessa’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/orangelimpafricanbushviper
Luis Cessa is not a particularly impressive pitcher, as his career 4.95 ERA and 5.73 ERA in 2019 can attest. June has been particularly rough, with two scoreless innings dropping his June ERA to a less-than-ideal 14.73. At the very least, he carried a 3.16 ERA into this month, so there’s still hope Cessa can turn things around.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Quarter Contest.
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