The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, featuring a compelling showdown between Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Paul Skenes.
This matchup marks only the second career meeting between these two exceptional players. Their first encounter took place in early June at PNC Park, and it was memorable for several reasons. Skenes had the upper hand initially, striking out Ohtani in their first showdown. However, Ohtani quickly demonstrated why he is considered one of the most talented players in the game. In their subsequent face-off, Ohtani launched a 415-foot home run, followed by a solid single in their final at-bat that night. The single was particularly noteworthy, clocking in at an exit velocity of 107.6 mph, making it Ohtani's hardest-hit ball of the evening.
Currently, Ohtani is sidelined as a pitcher due to injury recovery, yet his contributions as a hitter remain invaluable. He is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, a feat that would further solidify his already illustrious career. His performance against high-velocity pitches this season has been remarkable. Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against pitches clocking in at 98 mph or harder, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph on these pitches. Notably, nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity. However, it hasn't been all smooth sailing; Ohtani's 40% whiff rate on these high-velocity pitches is above the league average of 24.7%.
On the mound for the Pirates, Paul Skenes brings an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, ranking him fourth in the majors. The only pitchers ahead of him in this category are Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Skenes is not just looking to dominate the mound tonight; he is setting his sights on making history. He aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game. Moreover, Skenes is attempting to achieve what only Fernando Valenzuela has done before: win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year.
Reflecting on his upcoming face-off against Ohtani, Skenes had this to say: "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."
As for the teams, the Dodgers currently hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West with 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 and are struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive after a challenging five-game losing streak.
Tonight's game will be the last meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year unless they meet in the playoffs, adding another layer of significance to an already crucial matchup. Fans will have to wait until April 25-27, 2025, for the next Pirates-Dodgers series.
Both teams and their respective stars have much at stake tonight. Whether it's Ohtani trying to defy the odds as a full-time designated hitter and MVP candidate, or Skenes aspiring to join the elite ranks of baseball history, tonight’s game promises to be a thrilling chapter in their burgeoning rivalries and storied careers.