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.
Rich Hill’s Eephus
https://gfycat.com/talkativespiritederin
I’d be lying if I said Rich Hill getting the titular spot in this roundup wasn’t mostly because I’m excited to have an eephus. Luckily though, it also has a very legitimate case for being the winner today. With Friday’s win over the Cubs, Rich Hill now takes a 2.60 ERA into his next start. With the Giants next on the docket, that ERA should only improve.
Lucas Giolito’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/foolishgiantfieldmouse
To say Lucas Giolito was an entirely unexpected surprise for the White Sox this year would be underselling it, his 2.22 ERA this year sitting a full 3.91 lower than last season. His strikeouts have skyrocketed too, going from 6.5 per 9 last season to 10.56 this year. This gorgeous slider to get Clint Frazier was one of six on the night for the 24-year-old.
Max Scherzer’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/wickedindeliblebantamrooster
Big surprise: Max Scherzer has been very, very good this year. He sports a 2.81 ERA and career-high 12.3 K/9, and carries them into next week’s matchup with Bryce Harper and the Phillies.
Jerry Blevins‘ Curveball
https://gfycat.com/rawrigidjunco
Speaking of Harper, Jerry Blevins gave him a rude introduction to his slow, looping curveball on Friday, lowering his season ERA to a still ghastly 5.40 ERA, following a scoreless inning (though he walked 2). Luckily for the Braves, they aren’t paying him much, because man, he has been awful in 17 games this year, with his 6.94 BB/9 the clearest indication thus.
Gerrit Cole’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/grouchyvillainousbullmastiff
Gerrit Cole notched his 8th 10+ K game of the season on Friday, striking out 10 while allowing 2 ER in 6 innings of work. While his early season was a bit rough, Cole brought his season ERA down to 3.67 on Friday, and sports an enormous (and league-leading) 13.9 K/9. Though it’s usually his spectacular slider that lands him on this list, Cole earned his spot this week by cranking up the high heat to badly expose Randal Grichuk.
Kyle Gibson’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/sardonicthirdadamsstaghornedbeetle
Kyle Gibson was nothing short of extraordinary on Friday against the Royals, allowing only 2 hits over 8 innings of work, as the Twins continued their spectacular season and rise to 46-22. Gibson was a popular sleeper coming into 2019, and he’s largely delivered thus far, with his 77/17 K/BB ratio sticking out in particular.
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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