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.
Hunter Greene’s Slider
Green means go, and Hunter Greene never took his foot off the gas. Cincinnati’s All-Star tore through Atlanta like an F1 car through a racetrack, allowing just two hits and striking out seven hitters over seven scoreless innings. Greene never braked. Just ask Eddie Rosario, who fell victim to this slider that knocked him so off-kilter he two-stepped just to stay on his feet.
Tarik Skubal’s Changeup
Monday’s Guardians-Tigers game had it all: An inside-the-park home run from Jake Rogers (yes, really), a divisional matchup, and a terrific Tarik Skubal performance. The left-hander’s greatest accomplishment wasn’t allowing a run despite 10 Guardian hits, nor was it working seven innings. It was striking out Steven Kwan. And not just by happenstance. Skubal downed Kwan with this tumbling, almost 12-6-esque changeup. What more could you ask for?
Carlos Carrasco’s Changeup
If your answer to that question was a Carlos Carrasco changeup, you’re in luck. Whether or not Carrasco meant to toss the pitch here is questionable, but its beauty is without challenge. It almost feathers to the front door of the zone and leaves Gio Urshela unsure what to do with it. Carrasco ultimately chose for the veteran and sent him back to the bench.
Carlos Rodón’s Slider
Carlos Rodón started to look more like himself on Monday after posting a 9.67 ERA over his last six starts. The left-hander railroaded the Rays, allowing a run and two hits across seven innings. While this far-reaching slider to Brandon Lowe takes the cake, each member of the Rays offense took a slice. Rodon punched out 10, seven courtesy of his slider. The Yankees need the real Rodon to keep standing up if they want to salvage the second half of their season.
Andre Pallante’s Knuckle Curve
When offensively challenged teams like the Pirates and Cardinals clash, pitchers thrive. Such was the case for Andre Pallante. The right-hander bludgeoned the Buccos, allowing three hits, two walks, and one run while striking out three over six innings pitched. Where he lacked in quantity of strikeouts, Pallante made up for in quality. Nick Gonzales is a goner on this knuckle curve the second it leaves Pallante’s hand. It has incredible downward torque before finally landing in the catcher’s mitt. The final score of that game? 2-1, of course.
Aaron Bummer’s Fastball
Elly De La Cruz isn’t often on the other end of a highlight. Thanks to Aaron Bummer, tonight was the exception. The 30-year-old sat down De La Cruz with this perfectly placed cross-body fastball. Bummer’s 2024 highlight reel might not be a fourth as long as De La Cruz’s, but you’ll find this on it.
Ranger Suárez’s Curveball
Go, go, Ranger Suárez! The Phillies pitcher took to the mound following a prolonged rain delay, much to the chagrin of the Twins and Max Kepler, who crumbled against this curveball like Rita Repulsa. Kepler can take solace in knowing he’s not the first to fall for Suarez’s curve. Entering Monday, the pitch accounted for 25% of all Suarez’s strikeouts and carried a 35.4 K%, the highest among the southpaw’s six pitches. It’s the power weapon of Suarez’s arsenal, and here for a reason.
David Peterson’s Changeup
David Peterson battled himself Monday night, allowing six hits and four walks over five innings. It’s somewhat miraculous that the left-hander only allowed two runs. Luckily for the pitcher, his burning bush manifested as a cruel hammer-dropping changeup Jake Burger never had a prayer of touching.
Austin Gomber’s Knuckle Curve
Austin Gomber wasted no time. The left-hander left his imprint early into Monday’s match with the Red Sox, sitting down Rob Refsnyder with this violent, unrelenting knucklecurve. Gomber continued to leave his mark, retiring 12 of his first 13 batters faced. Unfortunately, Gomber’s influence turned shortly after. The Red Sox scored four in the fifth and left Gomber with only a hot start.
José Buttó’s Changeup
While Peterson fought himself, José Buttó breezed through his time on the mound. The starter-turned-reliever struck out three over his two innings, including Jesús Sánchez with this sinking changeup. It’s not the sexiest punchout, but it carries enough late sink to send Sanchez’s bat swinging like a windmill blade.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram