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!
Kyle Hendricks‘ Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/inconsequentialinfiniteatlanticsharpnosepuffer
The Professor went to work on Sunday as Kyle Hendricks turned in his best performance of the season going eight strong allowing only one run on eight strikeouts, all combined to a 41% CSW. Possibly the nastiest pitch of this outing was a two-seam fastball, bearing in on Nomar Mazara and then moving across the plate with nothing left for him to do but watch it go by.
Chris Bassitt’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/leafygroundedgallinule
Chris Bassitt dropped this curveball in the zone against Trevor Larnach on Sunday, one of his four strikeouts in the no decision. Good look to the youngster in hitting this pitch that starts up at your head and then drops right into the zone. (H/T to PL+ member Pete Dixon).
Kyle Gibson’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/hideousdigitalkrill
Kyle Gibson finished with a solid CSW of 32% in his seven strong innings on Sunday before the game was blown by the bullpen. Here we see a slider drop away and down causing Chas McCormick to flail out and swing right through it, for one of his strikeouts.
Lance McCullers’ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/elegantamusingbuzzard
Battling pitch for pitch with Gibson was Lance McCullers who twirled six shutout innings of his own on Sunday. Don’t let the picture-in-picture distract you from this nasty changeup dropping down and in on Charlie Culberson causing him to swing right through it and take the walk back to the dugout.
Jimmy Nelson’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/lastcontentkangaroo
Jimmy Nelson got his outing off to a great start on Sunday, striking out Jazz Chisholm with this curveball dropping down and out of the zone as Chisholm throws the bat out there in hopes of making contact.
Freddy Peralta’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/gentlecrispemperorpenguin
With a 40% CSW, Freddy Peralta may have been the most impressive starting pitcher on Sunday, striking out eight batters in six shutout innings. Among these strikeouts was this changeup to Freddie Freeman, and anytime you can make the reigning MVP look this foolish, you belong in this article.
Jordan Romano’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/lateshrillleech
In preserving the Blue Jays’ lead on Sunday, Jordan Romano came on to face the top of the Phillies’ lineup. In doing that, he escaped a jam by spotting this 101 mph fastball right at the bottom of the zone catching Andrew McCutchen looking.
Tanner Scott’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/merryfarflungaxisdeer
Coming out of the pen on Sunday, Tanner Scott helped preserve the lead in order for Baltimore to prevent the sweep at the hands of the Yankees. This slider bearing down and in makes DJ LeMahieu swing right through it as part of a clearly uncomfortable at bat.
Devin Williams‘ Changeup
https://gfycat.com/bareillustriousanophelesmosquito
Devin Williams has carved out a nice home in these articles each day and Sunday was no different with multiple GIFable pitches in his hold against the Braves. Here was in my opinion the nastiest, his usual air-bending changeup that seemed to stop mid-air and just drop down causing Ehire Adrianza to wave right through it as Williams hops off the mound. (H/T to PL+ member nvita).
Clay Holmes‘ Two-Seam Fastball
https://gfycat.com/sentimentalcorrupthedgehog
In his relief appearance on Sunday, Clay Holmes threw two strong innings. But he makes an appearance on this article on this two-seamer flailed at by Mauricio Dubón.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)