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.
Ryan Pepiot’s Changeup
While Ryan Pepiot didn’t have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day like Judith Viorst’s Alexander, he struggled to find his footing. Over six innings, Pepiot allowed nine hits, four runs, and two home runs. He wasn’t at his finest. And yet the right-hander showed why he’d be a worthy protagonist for any writer. Check out this changeup to Jordan Westburg that silently slips away like a friend making an Irish goodbye.
Corbin Burnes‘ Slider
After allowing two runs in the second, Corbin Burnes locked in. Over the next five innings, the former Cy Young winner let up just three hits, no walks, and no runs. Burnes had it all working for him late. This slider to Randy Arozarena is no exception, leaving him as baffled as the Russians and Austrians at the Battle of Austerlitz.
Kevin Kelly’s Sweeper
James McCann did what?! The veteran catcher looked as lost against Kevin Kelly’s sweeper as a second grader does reading “The Brothers Karamazov.” In fairness, it’s hard to chastise McCann with a pitch like this. He and any other hitter would’ve needed a Redwood to touch it.
Griffin Jax’s Changeup
Hello, Griffin Jax. The 29-year-old continued his breakout campaign on Monday night, striking out all three batters faced. Adael Amador is just one of Jax the Ripper’s latest victims after chasing this 93-mile-per-hour changeup.
P.S. Did Christian Vázquez throw this ball to the moon?
Chris Paddack’s Curveball
Entering Monday’s game, Chris Paddack had a 5.26 ERA. After playing the Rockies, that number’s down to 4.79. Jokes aside, Paddack isn’t just benefitting from fool’s gold. Well, not entirely. Playing the Rockies away from Coors Field always helps, but Paddack shoved. For instance, take this curveball that made Brenton Doyle look like Javier Báez.
José Berríos‘ Slurve
The Blue Jays might be circling mediocrity, but José Berríos still has elite stuff. The right-hander put it on display with this cross-body slurve that gets Rhys Hoskins reaching like a reader guessing the killer 50 pages into a mystery novel. Try as he might, Berríos couldn’t solve the case either, with the Blue Jays losing 3-1.
Logan Gilbert’s Splitter
Logan Gilbert might’ve missed his spot here, but Corey Julks missed this splitter enough that it didn’t matter. Julks’ strikeout was emblematic of Chicago’s offense. Gilbert stumped the unit all night, allowing two hits while striking out five across his first five innings. In brief, Chicago was as dumbfounded as anyone attempting to decode “Infinite Jest” without its index.
Dylan Cease’s Slider
Making it onto our list when going against the A’s offense isn’t surprising. Making it onto the list for striking out Brent Rooker, Oakland’s best hitter, is cause for celebration. Dylan Cease achieves this feat with a biting first-inning slider that drops Rooker almost to a knee.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram