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.
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Luis Castillo’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/passionateexcitablebluetickcoonhound
After a dreadful start to the year the Red Sox offense has woken up over the past couple weeks and came into Tuesday as the second highest scoring team in the American League, just one run behind the Angels. Luis Castillo, however, did not care as he easily dispatched the Sox hitters and picked up ten strikeouts over six shutout innings. He got Rafael Devers here on a great changeup in the fourth.
Adam Wainwright’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/hardelegantastrangiacoral
Adam Wainwright ranks among the oldest players in Major League Baseball, but his signature curveball is as good as ever. Jurickson Profar learned that the hard way as he got spun around on Waino’s big breaker.
George Kirby’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/determinedmemorablebelugawhale
Mariners’ youngster George Kirby got the start on Tuesday as the M’s traveled east to Baltimore. It wasn’t a Nightmare in Bird Land for Kirby, though, as the rookie cruised through six shutout innings. He had eight Ks on the evening and put away Rougned Odor on a filthy backfoot slider.
Kevin Gausman’s Splitter
https://gfycat.com/calmjealousgadwall
On paper, the matchup between Lucas Giolito and Kevin Gausman looked to be a pitching duel between two aces. However, the two weren’t particularly sharp on Tuesday, and neither eclipsed the five-inning mark. Gausman still showed off his fantastic splitter a few times, including here, to Yasmani Grandal.
Lucas Giolito’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/aliveindelibledutchsmoushond
Despite his early exit, Lucas Giolito still picked up eighteen whiffs and an impressive eight strikeouts. Of the eight, three came on the changeup including this one to Matt Chapman.
Martín Pérez’s Cutter
https://gfycat.com/informalbonychamois
Martín Pérez has had himself a fantastic start to the 2022 season and didn’t lose any momentum on Tuesday as the veteran lefty tossed another gem. Perez went seven scoreless innings, allowing only three baserunners, and struck out five. His best pitch of the night may have been this cutter to Mike Zunino that ran way inside to tie up the Rays’ catcher.
Blake Snell’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/serenelivebluejay
Blake Snell had a late start to the season as the lefty was rehabbing an injury, but his third start of the year was his best yet. Snell struck out the side in the fourth and finished the inning with a nasty changeup to Edmundo Sosa.
Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/dependablenaughtyfrillneckedlizard
Charlie Morton has struggled to round into form in 2022 and one reason may be that his curveball is not as dominant as it has been in years past. Morton is still able to break out a few good curveballs, though, and made Josh Rojas look foolish on this one.
Frankie Montas‘ Splitter
https://gfycat.com/eminentsarcasticcoati
Tuesday’s late game provided an AL West matchup between Frankie Montas and Cristian Javier in Oakland. The veteran Montas threw seven solid innings and picked up five punchouts along the way. Only one strikeout came on his splitter, but it was a nasty one to put away Jason Castro.
Cristian Javier’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/actualpassionatebluebreastedkookaburra
Cristian Javier matched Montas’ performance on the hill Tuesday. While the young Astro wasn’t particularly efficient, lasting only four innings, he allowed just a single run and put away four A’s via the K. Poor Sheldon Neuse was nowhere close to this slider.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)