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.
Clarke Schmidt’s Knuckle Curve
Schmidt had some trouble in the first, surrendering three runs on three singles and a pair of walks. But he recovered well and struck out seven in just his third start since returning following a nearly three-month stay on the IL with a right lat strain. After hitting a sac fly during the Mariners’ rally in the first, Jorge Polanco came up empty in his second at-bat, thanks to a devastating breaker from Schmidt that dove straight off the table.
Logan Gilbert’s Splitter
It wasn’t Gilbert’s prettiest line. Still, he held a tough Yankees lineup to two runs on a dinger from Jazz Chisholm Jr. while racking up nine K’s (and 20 whiffs) through five and a third. Giancarlo Stanton’s first at-bat of the afternoon came with two runners on, but Gilbert sent him packing with a heinous, knee-high splitter. Kelsey Grammer would be proud. Tossed salad and scrambled eggs.
Edward Cabrera’s Slider
Before Dodgers Shohei Ohtani stole the spotlight and turned the game into a two-possession rout, we were treated to the weekly Edward Cabrera experience, i.e., strikeouts and walks followed by an early exit. With two down and runners on the corners in the second, Cabrera unleashed a gorgeous slider on the outside corner to strike out Mookie Betts. Unfortunately, calamity and mayhem followed Cabrera in the third. Still, we can at least wonder for a few more days what Cabrera could be if he could harness his pitches just a little.
Yennier Cano’s Changeup
The 30-year-old Cuban has been a rock for the Orioles all season and did his job again, guarding a 3-2 lead over the Giants with a scoreless eighth. He ended his outing with a devastating change that sent rookie Tyler Fitzgerald on an ill-fated fishing trip. Cano has been a pitch quality darling, boasting a 5.61 PLV that’s ranked behind only Emmanuel Clase’s 5.67 for the most among any pitcher with at least 500 pitches thrown.
Logan Webb’s Sweeper
Thursday afternoon’s showdown at Camden Yards saw Webb fan eight, his highest total since August 1oth at home against the Tigers. He totaled 14 swings and misses, two coming from the sweeper including this beauty to Emmanuel Rivera that set up Webb’s fifth strikeout.
Jack Flaherty’s Knuckle Curve
Flaherty didn’t dominate but did just enough to earn his 13th win, holding the Marlins to three earned runs across six frames. Jake Burger led off the home half of the second by launching a fastball from Flaherty 417 feet over the wall in left. However, the former Red Bird found sweet vengeance in the sixth with a slider that rendered Burger helpless.
Zack Littell’s Splitter
Triston Casas has had a tough season and Zack Littell didn’t make it any easier, unleashing a nasty splitter for his third K of the night. Casas, of course, wasn’t alone in his struggles as the Red Sox were shut out at the Trop. Littell, meanwhile needed only 75 pitches to clear seven innings.
Yusei Kikuchi’s Curveball
Moments after a leadoff home run from Taylor Ward, Kikuchi made Zach Neto, one of three hitters in last night’s Angels lineup boasting a wRC+ over 100 (we’re not counting Eric Wagaman’s 30 PA, are we? No? Good.), look silly for his first strikeout. Kikuchi fanned nine while holding the Angels to just the Ward home run over six innings. However, he had to settle for a no-decision thanks to a fine effort from his counterpart and fellow left-hander José Suarez.
Edwin Uceta’s Sinker
You’ve got to hand it to the Rays. They have a knack for developing bullpen arms, the latest being Edwin Uceta who debuted with the Dodgers three years ago before bouncing around several stops including a lone appearance with the Mets last season. Another scoreless appearance dropped his ERA to 1.38 with a 0.74 WHIP. His success has been fueled by a nearly unhittable sinker that has yielded a 17.4% SwStr thanks to having a 99th percentile Height adjusted Vertical Approach Angle. Danny Jansen had no chance.
Porter Hodge’s Sweeper
The 23-year-old rookie has toed the line, walking batters at a precarious clip of 12.5% while serving as the Cubs’ closer for the final few weeks. Hodge’s heater hasn’t been great, mostly due to poor locations (88 PlvLoc+; 100 is average). However, his sweeper has been unbelievably good, returning a 23.8% SwStr rate (93rd percentile among RP). Blue chip prospect, Dylan Crews found that out before hitting a flyball to right for the second out of Hodge’s sixth save.