Pitcher List was founded on the back of filthy pitches, and we strive to bring you the best of the best every day. However, with over 70+ pitches featured every week, there is a lot to sort through. We ask you, the readers, to vote for your favorite every day, and now is your chance to crown the best of the week.
Every week, we will be featuring the top pitches from each day as voted on by the readers. Then, every Tuesday, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorite of the week. Make your voice heard in the comments, on Twitter, and in our Discord for which pitch you think is the best!
5/11 – Jimmy Herget’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/veneratedenragedhippopotamus
Jimmy Herget has one of the most unique deliveries in the entire league. So unique, in fact, that batters sometimes have a very difficult time picking up the ball out of his hand. I’d imagine that Francisco Mejía may have had a hard time picking this one up.
5/11 – Scott Effross‘ Sinker
https://gfycat.com/heavyblushingkissingbug
Another side-arm guy who’s exploded onto the Nastiest Pitches scene this year is Scott Effross and his filthy slider/sinker combo. The two pitches have a 40% and 34.2% CSW% respectively, both of which are fantastic numbers and are helping drive Effross’ success this year.
5/11 – Ryan Pepiot’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/ignorantclutteredhoneyeater
Ryan Pepiot made his MLB debut last week, a shaky outing where he didn’t allow a run but still allowed six baserunners (five walks and a HBP). His changeup wasn’t super effective on the day, but this one got some seriously filthy movement and redeemed itself in my eyes. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and attribute it to first start jitters.
5/11 – Michael King’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/sardonicunkemptamericancrayfish
Michael King has been one of the filthiest pitchers in baseball this year, with both his sinker and changeup being featured multiple times in various Nastiest Pitches articles this season. This time it’s the curveball taking center stage and all George Springer can do is throw his bat out there and hope to foul it off. Nasty.
5/13 – Jordan Hicks‘ Sinker
https://gfycat.com/mintytangiblecatfish
Jordan Hicks‘ record as a starter hasn’t been great this year, but the filth is still coming at an impressive clip. This 101 MPH sinker exploded out of his hand, and if St. Louis had a better camera angle this might be a contender for nastiest pitch of the year.
5/13 – Max Fried’s Sinker
https://gfycat.com/caringknobbyamericansaddlebred
Max Fried is known for his gorgeous curveball around these parts, but his sinker is a sneaky filthy pitch in its own right. Jake Cronenworth is lucky he didn’t hurt himself on this swing.
5/13 – Framber Valdez’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/weeexcitablebluebird
You know a pitch is filthy when it makes one of the best hitters on the planet question his own existence, and that’s exactly what this curveball from Framber Valdez did to Juan Soto.
5/14 – Shane Bieber’s Knuckle Curve
https://gfycat.com/realdampbuzzard
Shane Bieber has had an up and down year and his curveball has not been great. A 22.5% CSW ranks at the bottom of the league among all curveballs this year and it’s part of the reason why Bieber hasn’t consistently been the Bieber of old quite yet. This one to Jorge Polanco didn’t get the crazy depth we’re used to, but man, is it still nasty.
5/15 – Hunter Greene’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/fewimmensecuckoo
In a game that the Reds lost without giving up a hit, Hunter Greene started and earned the loss after throwing 7.1 hitless innings. The slider was doing work, earning a 36.9% CSW on the day and this one was the filthiest of the bunch.
5/15 – Kyle Wright’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/knobbycarefreeadmiralbutterfly
I think Kyle Wright has been featured in this post every week. He’s consistently been one of the nastiest pitchers in baseball this year, so it should be no surprise to see him here yet again.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)