Every morning, the We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games. If you see something you think should be included here be sure to tweet @PitcherList to let us know. Or, if you’re a PL+ Member and part of our Discord, shout it out in the Nastiest Pitches channel.
Edward Cabrera’s Slider
The Marlins have plenty of problems. Edward Cabrera might not be one of them. After suffering a shoulder impingement, Cabrera is back in the Majors and reminding hitters to be on guard. This third-inning slider fooled Nick Ahmed and nearly dropped him to a knee.
Edward Cabrera’s Changeup
Cabrera didn’t stop there. The 26-year-old sliced through San Francisco’s offense like a helicopter blade through the air on Monday. This changeup not only fooled Michael Conforto but mercifully ended Cabrera’s night and San Francisco’s suffering. Cabrera worked six innings, struck out 10, and induced a night-high 17 swinging strikes.
Reese Olson’s Changeup
Cabrera wasn’t the only tzar of the swinging strike on Monday, nor was he the only pitcher to embarrass a hitter with a changeup. Reese Olson made Adolis Garcia lean like a wilted lily with this gnarly changeup. Olson kept at it all night, striking out 8, coaxing 16 strikeouts, and fooling the reigning World Series champions all night.
Luis Gil’s Fastball
Let’s move from the off-speed to the high-speed. Luis Gil aimed high and went higher to fool George Springer with this 99-mile-per-hour fastball that screams into the zone like the driving rain. How do you know when you’ve stumped a hitter? When they react like Springer, tossing his bat to the ground and making the slow walk back to the dugout for his glove. If it’s any solace to Springer, Gil K’d five other Blue Jays and ended his night with 14 swinging strikes, third-most.
Nick Sandlin’s Sinker
Boston’s offense came out slow on Marathon Monday due to a strong team effort from Cleveland’s pitchers. Nick Sandlin did his part in the bottom of the eighth with this inside sinker that froze Jarren Duran like a computer screen. Cleveland would finish its shutout in the ninth and move to a division-leading 11-5 record.
Aaron Nola’s Fastball
Grab your blowtorch. We’ve got another frozen batter that needs to be rethawed. Nolan Jones was powerless against Aaron Nola’s 93-mile-per-hour fastball that just caught the bottom corner of the zone. Jones’ strikeout was one of Nola’s nine on the night. Philadelphia’s offense failed to come through for Nola despite his efforts, scoring just one run throughout his seven innings and handing the pitcher a no-decision.
Justin Lawrence’s Sweeper
Let’s stick in the City of Brotherly Love. It’s rare to find a Rockie pitcher on this list, but Justin Lawerence’s sweeper is too good to overlook. The only way Nick Castellanos could’ve even sniffed a sweeper like this is if he had the Liberty Bell at the end of his bat.
Darius Vines‘ Sweeper
No Spencer Strider? No problem. Not yet, at least. Darius Vines impressed in his 2024 debut with this cutter coaxing a Castellanos-esque flail from Yainer Diaz. If Castellanos needed the Liberty Bell, what would Dainer need to hit something this filthy? A rocket from the Johnson Space Center?
Camilo Doval’s Cutter
Remember how the Marlins have plenty of problems? Keeping a lead is one of them. Miami squandered Cabrera’s performance, let the Giants get ahead, and paid the price. Camilo Doval struck out Bryan De La Cruz, the potential game-winning run, with this gorgeous 99 miles-per-hour cutter with rise. See you later. Turns out San Francisco won’t be sleeping with the fishes after all.
Tyler Glasnow’s Curveball
It only feels right to end Monday’s list with a Dodger in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. With a man on second and no outs, Tyler Glasnow needed help. He found it in his curveball, which was as good as gold, escaping Jesse Winker’s grasp for a much-needed strikeout. However, to quote Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Washington tagged Glasnow early, scoring three runs in the first three innings.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram