The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for an exciting continuation of their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET. This matchup promises to be a captivating duel as it features Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Paul Skenes.
An Intriguing Pitcher-Batter Showdown
This game marks only the second career meeting between the immensely talented Ohtani and the burgeoning ace Skenes. Their first encounter, which took place in early June at PNC Park, set the stage for what baseball fans hope will be a long-standing rivalry. In that initial matchup, Skenes struck out Ohtani, only for the Japanese star to respond in their next face-off with a towering 415-foot home run. Ohtani continued to showcase his prowess by hitting a solid single in their final at-bat that evening, with the ball clocking in at an impressive 107.6 mph exit velocity, his hardest-hit ball of the night.
Shohei Ohtani's Versatile Dominance
Currently sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, Ohtani remains a formidable force at the plate. He is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His batting statistics provide a compelling argument for his MVP candidacy. This season, Ohtani has excelled against pitches clocking 98 mph or harder, going 9 for 18 with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Notably, nearly 82% of his balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity. However, Ohtani's 40% whiff rate on such high-speed pitches is notably above the league average of 24.7%.
Paul Skenes' Stellar Performances
On the other side, Paul Skenes has been making waves with his sensational pitching. His average four-seam fastball velocity stands at 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 has ambitions beyond just a strong season; he aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game and is also vying to join an exclusive club by winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year—a feat only achieved by the legendary Fernando Valenzuela.
Team Stakes and Playoff Hopes
The stakes could not be higher for both teams. The Dodgers currently 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 and are struggling to maintain their postseason hopes following a disheartening five-game losing streak. This game will be the last encounter between the Dodgers and Pirates for the year unless they meet again in the playoffs. For those already marking their calendars, the next Pirates-Dodgers series is slated for April 25-27, 2025.
Player Perspectives
As both players prepare for another epic face-off, Paul Skenes reflected on their first encounter with humility and respect. "I like to call that big on big because I obviously beat him a couple of times earlier," Skenes said. "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."
Baseball enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating tonight's game, intrigued by how the unfoldment of each player’s evolving strategies will impact the outcome. With both teams fighting for their playoff destinies, tonight’s matchup is more than just a game; it's a microcosm of the high stakes and drama that make baseball timeless.