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.
Bryce Miller’s Knuckle Curve
Okay, Bryce Miller. The mustached maniac opened his night by striking out the side, and despite allowing a solo shot to Josh Lowe, raged against the Rays. Miller struck out seven through four and made the Rays lineup into his personal plaything. Brandon Lowe knows that more than most, chasing this bottoming-out knuckle curve.
Ronel Blanco’s Curveball
Entering Monday, Ronel Blanco had a 5.34 ERA in six second-half starts. Things were trending down and expected to dip even further with the Phillies on the schedule. That, however, was not to be. Blanco was brilliant on Monday. The no-namer turned stand-out navigated trouble waters repeatedly en route to allowing just two runs in five-and-two-thirds innings. Helping Blanco wade these rapids was his curveball. Here, it disappears mid-stream on Kyle Schwarber like the HMS Erebus.
José Berríos‘ Slurve
Danny Jansen wasn’t the only one making waves in Monday’s suto-doubleheader between the Red Sox and Blue Jays. José Berríos was jaw-droppingly good in the nightcap, striking out six while allowing two earned runs over seven-and-two-thirds innings pitched. Nothing exemplified Berrios’s stellar night quite like this slurve to Connor Wong.
Zack Wheeler’s Fastball
The force was strong with Zack Wheeler on Star Wars Night. The sturdy starter wasn’t untouchable, allowing six hits, two walks, and two runs, but retained his form enough to stifle a rebellious Astros offense. Yainer Diaz falls prey to this fastball that soars into the air like an X-wing for strike three. Impressive, Mr. Wheeler. Most impressive.
Mitchell Parker’s Slider
Though Mitchell Parker didn’t last long Monday night, he had a strong enough luster to crack our list. Parker employs an immaculate cross-body slider that drops from the center of the zone to the outside corner like an elevator with cut cables. Even the recently red-hot Austin Wells had no chance at something like this.
Cole Ragans‘ Slider
Success didn’t come easy for Cole Ragans on Monday afternoon. The right-hander needed 94 pitches to labor through four innings, walking four, allowing three hits, and one earned run. Thankfully, some well-timed outs saved the twirler. See this resplendent rainbow-esque slider so sharp Josh Naylor loses the grip of his bat if it were a stick of butter to strand a pair of baserunners.
Nestor Cortes‘ Fastball
Welcome to MLB, Dylan Crews. Baseball’s welcome gift is this nasty fastball from Nestor Cortes. The pitch will land right where the catcher calls for it on the top inside corner, clock in at 94 miles per hour, strike you out and come at a crucial moment. That aside, Dylan, MLB hopes you enjoy your professional debut.
Max Fried’s Cutter
While Atlanta’s offense got off to a rollicking start, the same couldn’t be said for Max Fried. The 30-year-old coughed up a leadoff double and two batters later, let a run cross home plate. Once the bases cleared, though, Fried looked like his old self. He carved through Carlos Santana, offering him this hellacious backdoor cutter before striking him out on a hanging curveball.
Josh Hader’s Slider
No save opportunity? No problem. Josh Hader plowed through Philly’s lineup in the ninth, striking out each hitter faced without much contest. This slider to Austin Hays might take the cake, though. It bullets towards the heart of the zone long enough to draw Hays’ attention and then plummets on him. Hader’s 10th-inning performance? Well, the less said about it the better.
Jameson Taillon’s Sinker
Jameson Taillon was once Pittsburgh’s great hope. Now he’s striking out Oneil Cruz, their newest prize. Taillon opened his outing with this perfectly placed inside sinker that left Cruz a petrified stone in the batter’s box.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram