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!
Gerrit Cole’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/reasonablelegitimatedarwinsfox
This is just unfair. Akil Baddoo has been a revelation early on in the season, but he was no match for this unhittable slider from Gerrit Cole. Cole struck out 12 over six innings of work and had a 44% CSW overall on the night, which is a ridiculous number. The Yankees need more of this out of Cole if they’re going to climb back into the AL East race.
Shane Bieber’s Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/meeksentimentalbullmastiff
I could have picked a handful of other pitches that looked exactly like this one. It’s truly amazing how Shane Bieber’s pinpoint command is so consistent with every pitch in his arsenal. He struck out another 11 batters on Friday night, setting a new MLB record with his 18th straight eight strikeout game. Saying it’s like playing a video game doesn’t do it justice. He is simply unreal.
Blake Treinen’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/timelyvelvetydeinonychus
Blake Treinen has been absolutely dealing lately. His slider/sinker combo have been featured in both the daily and weekly Nastiest Pitches a handful of times already, and here’s another filthy one to strike out Avisaíl García. At this point it’s basically a lock that if he gets in a game you’re going to see him here.
Miguel Castro’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/unrealisticgrizzledkoi
Another one of those guys is Miguel Castro, whose sinker/changeup combo is just as filthy as Treinen. Castro nearly incited a benches clearing brawl in this one after hitting a batter in the eigth inning, but first he had to make quick work of Matt Joyce with this nasty changeup.
Marcus Stroman’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/warmgeneralcirriped
Marcus Stroman struck out six Phillies in a row at one point, including this ridiculous splitter to Brad Miller. His slider/split-change went 12/24 CSW as he struck out eight Phillies overall in his five innings of work. The two runs he allowed were unearned, which is good news for your fantasy team, but there’s no doubt Stroman would have preferred to come away from this one with a victory.
Logan Webb’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/rashnearankolewatusi
Logan Webb’s changeup was revamped in Spring Training and the changes appear to have stuck. His 30% CSW with the pitch on Friday against a tough Padres lineup is pretty darn good, and he’s been pitching much better in his last couple outings. I’m excited for what he can do this year for NL-leading Giants. (H/t PL+ member Ben Murillo)
Yu Darvish’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/coolselfreliantbullfrog
I love the little stutter here by Tommy La Stella. This ball was going to hit him in the elbow, and by the time he realized it was going to be strike three it was already too late. Yu Darvish struck out 12 on the night and absolutely dominated the Giants. I think it’s safe to say he likes his new digs in San Diego.
Lance McCullers’ Knuckle-Curve
https://gfycat.com/shadylongcub
Lance McCullers struck out nine batters on Friday while earning the win in Tampa Bay. His changeup (41%) was his only pitch to post a CSW% above 30%, but when he needed a big out he was able to go to any of the tools on his belt. This tool of the knuckle-curve variety was used to make Yoshi Tsutsugo look silly.
Freddy Peralta’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/livelyinfinitealtiplanochinchillamouse
Let’s wrap this one up with two sliders from two dope pitchers in Milwaukee. First off is Freddy Peralta’s nasty slider against Corey Seager in the first inning. He didn’t have too many more good ones on Friday, as the pitch generated only a 13% CSW on the evening. We’ll give him a pass against the Dodgers.
Josh Hader’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/boldimpassionedkinglet
The second slider is none other than Josh Hader’s. Hader pitched a clean ninth inning to earn the save in this one, striking out all three batters he faced including Justin Turner in this at-bat. Don’t look now – Milwaukee is leading the NL Central with the 2nd best win% in the NL.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)