The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, a game that is highly anticipated due to the intriguing pitching matchup. The contest will see Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani face off against Pittsburgh's rookie ace Paul Skenes, marking only the second career meeting between these two remarkable players.
A Riveting Pitcher's Duel
In their first encounter back in early June at PNC Park, Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani, a moment that showcased the young pitcher's potential. However, Ohtani soon demonstrated why he’s considered one of the most formidable hitters in MLB, smashing a 415-foot home run in a subsequent at-bat and later hitting a single with an extraordinary exit velocity of 107.6 mph, the hardest-hit ball of the evening for him.
Ohtani's Offensive Prowess
Shohei Ohtani, who is currently sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, remains a force to be reckoned with at the plate. The two-way sensation is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, an accolade that seems increasingly within reach given his current form. This season, Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against pitches clocking 98 mph or harder, with an impressive average exit velocity of 99.8 mph.
Though nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity, he also holds a 40% whiff rate on pitches of 98 mph or harder, above the league average of 24.7%. This statistic adds an intriguing twist to his upcoming matchup with Skenes, whose average four-seam fastball velocity stands at 98.9 mph, ranking him fourth in the majors behind Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley.
Paul Skenes: A Star in the Making
While Ohtani continues to dazzle, Paul Skenes has his own set of ambitions. The rookie sensation is attempting to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game, and he aims to secure both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year. The only player to have achieved this incredible feat is Fernando Valenzuela, a testament to the magnitude of what Skenes hopes to accomplish.
Skenes acknowledged the challenge posed by facing a hitter of Ohtani's caliber, stating, "I like to call that big on big because I obviously beat him a couple of times earlier. I think that was the right pitch to throw there, he's just a pretty darn good player. Stuff like that is going to happen."
Playoff Picture
The Dodgers hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and boast a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. On the other hand, the Pirates find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot, struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive amid a five-game losing streak. Consequently, tonight's clash carries significant implications for both teams.
This game will be the last meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year unless they cross paths in the playoffs. Fans will have to wait until April 25-27, 2025, for the next Pirates-Dodgers series, making tonight's game even more significant as both teams hope to end the season on a high note.
As the Dodgers and Pirates prepare to face off, the baseball world will closely watch the duel between Ohtani and Skenes, two players at very different stages of their careers but both with extraordinary talent and promise. The outcome of this battle could very well set the tone for both teams as they head into the final stretch of the season.