Every week we review the nastiest pitches from the previous week in glorious HD GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back on Saturday to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the First Quarter Contest. Week 7’s winner was Jose Alvarado’s Two-seam Fastball. His 99 MPH with tailing action is ridiculous.
Week 8’s nastiest pitches have a slider from mainstay Chaz Roe that hits the outside black perfectly as well as 2 great curveballs from aces Aaron Nola and Gerrit Cole. A couple changeups from Stephen Strasburg and new ace-on-the-block Chris Paddack provide a pause from all the breaking balls. A good week for GIFs. Enjoy.
Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
Aaron Nola’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/dearestagedladybug
Aaron Nola has a great curveball, and this GIF shows the side-to-side movement on the pitch that can take the ball away from a hitter’s bat. Albert Almora was left swinging at air this time.
Tyler Chatwood’s Fastball
https://gfycat.com/zestysnoopygreatdane-baseball
Though he’s been in the news more for having one of the more atrocious pitching seasons in recent memory last season, Tyler Chatwood still has some nice stuff, and Odubel Herrera got handed way more than he could handle with this spectacular heater that bends up and away from the Phillies outfielder.
Chaz Roe’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/dimwittedbabyishirishwaterspaniel
It’s always nice when the eye test matches up perfectly with analytical data. Chaz Roe’s slider looks like it has a ridiculous amount of horizontal movement because it does. Baseball Savant’s new pitching movement leaderboard shows that Chaz Roe’s slider has 50% more horizontal movement than the next closest slider. Just ask Austin Barnes, who was left frozen by Roe’s slider last night.
Chris Paddack’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/MellowGlisteningGuineafowl
Chris Paddack’s burst onto the scene has been nothing short of phenomenal, and he has his best stuff on display over 6 frames of one-run ball against the lowly Diamondbacks. Jarrod Dyson wasn’t even close on this pitch, swinging a good foot above it at least. I can’t say I blame him, but yikes.
Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball
https://gfycat.com/AnnualScornfulAdder
103 mph heat? That crazy movement? This pitch is truly unhittable. What else can Joey Gallo do but stand and watch as Jordan Hicks absolutely grooves one right past him for strike three? Dang, that pitch is disgusting.
Stephen Strasburg’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/RevolvingFixedComet
Stephen Strasburg has quietly been fantastic over the past month plus, running a 2 ERA, sub-1 WHIP, and 12 K/9. His famous change has been a big part of that success; Willson Contreras stared at him for seven seconds after this piece of filth.
Gerrit Cole’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/AgilePotableCarpenterant
Though he lasted only five, Gerrit Cole was dominant over those five innings of work, striking out seven and walking one. This outing lowered Cole’s ERA on the year to 3.56, with a sparkling 13.8 K/9 to boot.
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner may be featured in the GIF of the First Quarter Contest.
[polldaddy poll=10327642]
Graphic by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)