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 Fourth 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 Curveball
https://gfycat.com/wanrepentantgrayfox
Max Scherzer has been his usual dominant self in 2019, having arguably the best season of his career. His ERA, FIP, and K/9 are all career bests, and his eight strikeouts against the O’s on Wednesday gave him his seventh straight 200-strikeout season. He could very well end up bringing home his fourth career Cy Young Award when the season is done, becoming just the fifth pitcher ever to achieve the feat (Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux).
Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/aptobedientdore
Though he bombed in a major way against the Mets on Wednesday, Kyle Hendricks has largely been the stud Cubs fans have grown accustomed to seeing over the past four years. It may just be me, but it feels like this is the first season where the general public has really come to appreciate Hendricks, and I for one am very pleased.
Dominic Leone’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/largeoptimalafricanrockpython
With a clean 1/3 of an inning on Wednesday, Dominic Leone’s season ERA dropped to a nice, uh, 6.27. As his cataclysmic 1.9 HR/9 illustrates, this season hasn’t gone quite as well as Leone hoped. Acquired from Toronto in the Randal Grichuk trade, Leone has been little more than a disappointment for the Redbirds. At 27, he still has time, but he needs to turn things around sooner rather than later.
Gerrit Cole’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/largejealousjunco
As a Mariners fan, I’d just like to point out how unfair it is that the Astros have two pitchers who could lay claim to the title of best pitcher in baseball and still have Zack Greinke and Wade Miley on top of that. Whining about how good the Astros are aside, Gerrit Cole has been superhuman this season. As impressive as his 2.85 ERA and 15-5 record are, his absolutely ludicrous 13.3 K/9 is the real star of the show. After flirting with 30o strikeouts last season, Cole should be able to break the hallowed barrier as long as he keeps up what he’s been doing. He’s struck out 10 or more in seven of his past 10 starts, with 12-plus in three of those. Just wow.
Mitch Keller’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/boldfarflungcarpenterant
Mitch Keller’s talent is undeniably there, but his rookie effort has been abysmal. He has a repulsive 8.24 ERA through seven starts, though his 11.8 K/9 is impressive, at least letting his talent shine through a bit. Things will turn around for him eventually, but man, is it rough right now.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Fourth Quarter Contest.
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