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.
As a bonus for PL+ members, let us know about a pitch on the PL+ Discord in the Nasty Pitches Channel, and if your suggestion is included the next day, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a free T-shirt!
Emmanuel Clase’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/mintywateryimpala
Trying to end a five-game losing streak, the Guardians turned to closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against division leaders Minnesota.
Clase allowed a few base runners due to some bad luck and questionable defending by his teammates, but ultimately preserved his team’s one-run lead and earned the save with back-to-back 101 MPH lasers to either side of the plate. Truly disgusting stuff.
Devin Smeltzer’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/weightyharshcrab
Devin Smeltzer is not a household name, nor do his stats (26.8% CSW% and 8.4% SwStr% against league averages of 27.9% and 11.5%) make him a likely candidate to show up frequently in the Nastiest Pitches archives.
Yet, here he is, totally bamboozling one of the best hitters in the game. One more reminder that if you watch an MLB game, you’ll get electric stuff no matter who is pitching.
Frankie Montas‘ Splitter
https://gfycat.com/energeticmeagerkiwi
Frankie Montas is one of the pitchers who will almost certainly be on the move at some point this season. He will bring a plus fastball and one of the league’s best splitters wherever he goes. It would be a joy to see a few of these beauties in the postseason.
Luis Castillo’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/foolishpinkdugong
After missing with a slider and a changeup, Luis Castillo simply reared back and threw gas to get back into the count. It took him 123 pitches to make it through six innings, but he blanked the Cubs and struck out 11 along the way.
Patrick Corbin’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/jampackedcreepyantipodesgreenparakeet
2022 has not been kind to Patrick Corbin, but he looked like his old, dominant self against the Pirates. He went eight full innings and matched a career-best 12 strikeouts in 113 pitches.
Josh Hader’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/peacefulbelovedgordonsetter
Josh Hader entered the game with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. He faced three batters and struck them all out in 13 pitches, culminating with this high cheese past Francisco Mejía. The best closer in the game, just doing his thing.
Brandon Woodruff’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/conventionalsoupyarkshell
Despite facing some struggles this season, Brandon Woodruff cruised against the Rays. He struck out 12, didn’t issue a walk, and allowed only two hits and one run in five innings of work to get the win.
Zack Wheeler’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/celebratedmerryharborporpoise
It wasn’t the cleanest outing for Zack Wheeler — he allowed five hits and three ER over 6.2 innings and 113 pitches — but he also earned 16 whiffs, a 30.7% CSW%, and eight strikeouts.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns of Twitter)