The We Love Baseball crew reviews the Nastiest Pitches from the previous day’s games every morning. If you see something you think should be included here, 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.
Paul Skenes‘ Slider
The one constant through 2024 is Paul Skenes. Injuries have steamrolled pitching staffs, and aces have spent more time on the shelf than on the mound, but Skenes has marked the time. Monday night was another example of that adage as the Pirates ace eviscerated the fish. In six innings, Skenes allowed a run while striking out nine. While any of those strikeouts could’ve cracked our list, let’s pay special heed to this stunning slider to Jesús Sánchez. Skenes is a reminder of all that’s good and can be forever more.
Carlos Rodón’s Slider
Few pitchers rely on their slider for strike three like Carlos Rodón does. Thankfully, for Rodon, few hitters can even sniff it. This cross-body slider to Michael Massey serves as Exhibit A and erases the Royals infielder like chalk on a blackboard. Contrary to his efforts, the Royals wrote the final words, registering three runs to give the left-hander a no-decision.
Joey Cantillo’s Changeup
Joey Cantillo struck gold his fifth time around. Cantillo didn’t need a pickaxe like those westward explorers aboard a Conestoga wagon. No, all the 25-year-old needed was this changeup to Miguel Vargas. Its late movement almost plummets like a cavern cliff, staying roughly level with the plate before disappearing toward the bottom-right corner. Embarrassing the White Sox comes easy for most pitchers. What doesn’t is posting a perfect game bid against them, which is exactly what Cantillo had until a seventh-inning single from Chicago.
Tylor Megill’s Slider
Tylor Megill is a tease. He’ll stun you one game and leave you shaking the next. On Monday night, though, Megill bounced the Blue Jays. The right-hander pitched six one-hit scoreless innings and retired his final 16 hitters in arguably his best start of the season. One person who won’t disagree with that sentiment is Leo Jiménez. The shortstop sliced through this stupendous slider for Megill’s seventh of nine strikeouts.
Fernando Cruz’s Splitter
Fernando Cruz has his kryptonite, but few pitchers have something stronger than his splitter. Here, it floats toward the outside corner before warping further away as if carried there by a flying hero. Cruz went on to strikeout two over his scoreless eighth-inning performance.
Brayan Bello’s Changeup
In an up-and-down season, Brayan Bello touched a peak on Monday night. The 25-year-old diced through Baltimore’s beleaguered offense and coughed up a pair of runs and five walks over five-and-a-third innings. He utilized this seemingly magically dipped changeup in the second frame to waylay Liván Soto.
Nick Martinez’s Slider
What’s one more slider to a list full of them? Nick Martinez deployed a nasty dovetailing version of the pitch to punch out Sean Murphy for his third of the night. Though Martinez would tally just two more strikeouts on the night, it doesn’t depreciate the veteran’s night. Martinez pitched seven scoreless against Atlanta, walking one and allowing two hits.
Orion Kerkering’s Sweeper
Orion Kerkering was on the hunt on Monday night. Unfortunately, Taylor Walls fell into his sights. Kerkering unfurled a gorgeous bottom-dropping sweeper from his toolbelt in the seventh to send Walls back toward the dugout.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram