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 to see if it made it in our September Nastiest Pitch 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.
Reynaldo Lopez’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/verifiablegoodnaturedivorybilledwoodpecker
Reynaldo Lopez had the best start of his young career, throwing a one-hitter last night against the Indians. Lopez mixed his fastball at different speeds with his fall-off-the table slider. Franmil Reyes struck out three times against Lopez and might see flashbacks to Lopez’s slider in his sleep.
Max Fried’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/grouchyshadowycrocodile
Max Fried doesn’t have any trouble missing bats with two good breaking pitches and a fastball that Fried commands well. Fried’s curveball is the most aesthetically pleasing of his offerings as the ball comes from behind his ear before bending like an arc and dropping toward the plate. It’s mesmerizing.
Diego Castillo’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/wanremoteguernseycow
Diego Castillo is part of the most GIFable bullpen in the majors, even with the season-ending injury to Jose Alvarado. This slider to Teoscar Hernandez moves across the zone at 89 mph before dropping right on the outside corner or maybe a little bit off—nasty pitch whether it’s actually a strike.
Roberto Osuna’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/blankashamedalligatorgar
Roberto Osuna elevated this fastball to Mallex Smith out of the zone in a pitcher’s count, and despite Smith’s good contact skills, he couldn’t make contact. Osuna throws with maximum effort, and the ball seems to explode out of his hand.
Sonny Gray’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/unconsciousoblongatlanticbluetang
Sonny Gray has had a great bounce-back year after a down year in the hitter’s haven that is Yankee Stadium. Gray has adjusted his repertoire with Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson and flourished in Cincinnati. Gray has always had above-average stuff but has now sharpened his complicated arsenal and put it all together over a full year. The Reds have a chance for one of the better rotations in baseball in 2019 led by Gray, Trevor Bauer, and Luis Castillo.
Chaz Roe’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/villainouswhoppingamericanlobster
Chaz Roe only faced one batter last night but still managed to throw a sweeping and seemingly physics-defying slider good enough for Nastiest Pitches. As always, the lateral movement on Roe’s slider is unbelievable, and the ball comes from behind Randall Grichuk’s back before landing on the outside third.
Andrew Cashner’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/ambitiousblindleveret
Andrew Cashner has been a disaster for the Red Sox since his acquisition before the trade deadline. Cashner first flamed out as a starter and is now having trouble throwing strikes in his new bullpen role. Cashner may not be an effective pitcher, but that’s not a requirement to get into Nastiest Pitches. A nasty pitch is a nasty pitch even if Cashner walked three batters and gave up the winning run in less than an inning. His splitter still got Jake Cave to swing and take a knee like Colin Kaepernick.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner may be featured in September’s Nastiest Pitch GIF Tournament.
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