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.
Chris Sale’s Four-Seam Fastball
His 10th and final strikeout of another commanding performance saw Chris Sale hit 99 mph on his fastball with his 90th pitch of the ball game. Atlanta’s decision to bet on him has more than paid off and Sale was majestic in the 10-3 win over the Angels. Logan O’Hoppe was blown away by this high heater. Wow!
Dylan Cease’s Slider
Dylan Cease has been on another level these past few months and he once again turned in a game-winning performance, his 12th of the campaign. Cease’s slider did most of the damage and his perfectly placed 89 mph hard slider to fell one of baseball’s top prospects in Drew Romo was my favorite.
Brayan Bello’s Sinker
Coming up against a tough Orioles lineup, Red Sox young gun Brayan Bello put on a show with six strikeouts and just one run earned on two hits. Bello mixed his fastball, sinker, and changeup to perfection. This 96 mph two-seamer to Ryan Mountcastle was the type of pitch he made all night in a big spot.
David Bednar’s Splitter
After Domingo Germán had loaded the bases protecting a five-run lead in the ninth inning, David Bednar was called upon due to the save situation and the top of the Mariners lineup coming up. Bednar was electric, striking out Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez to earn his 22nd save of the campaign. This 93 mph splitter to finish was the cherry on top!
Keider Montero’s Sinker
A fantastic outing from young Keider Montero against the Yankees. The Tiger allowed just two hits and struck out five across his five innings. This vicious two-seam comebacker to strikeout Aaron Judge sat at 96 mph and was a beauty!
Jeffrey Springs‘ Changeup
You just can’t mess with Jeffrey Springs in The Trop! The lefty loves pitching at home and this solid five-frame outing that included seven strikeouts was a joy to watch. His elite changeup was his go-to pitch once again, with this 79 mph effort to strike out Randal Grichuk the best of the bunch.
Luis Severino’s Cutter
A complete game shutout for veteran Luis Severino, who struck out eight across a phenomenal outing. This devastating 93 mph cut-fastball that disappears out the bottom of the strike zone was far too good for Vidal Bruján.
Chris Bassitt’s Sweeper
Veteran Chris Bassitt has shown excellent professionalism and command during a volatile Blue Jays season. Bassitt struck out five through five solid frames in a rain-affected defeat for his team. This beautiful 72 mph sweeper was his pitch of the day to strike out Nico Hoerner.