The Los Angeles Dodgers will continue their weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at 9 p.m. ET, featuring a highly anticipated matchup between Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Paul Skenes. This encounter marks only the second career meeting between Ohtani and Skenes, setting the stage for high drama at the ballpark.
In their initial showdown earlier this June at PNC Park, the rookie Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani in their first duel. However, the seasoned Ohtani responded with verve, launching a mammoth 415-foot home run in their subsequent face-off. The drama continued as Ohtani later hit a solid single, registering the hardest-hit ball of the evening with a stunning exit velocity of 107.6 mph.
It's important to note that while Ohtani is sidelined from pitching due to recovery, his batting prowess remains undiminished. Ohtani is on a mission to become the first full-time designated hitter to clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His batting stats against high-velocity pitches this season are nothing short of remarkable, going 9 for 18 against pitches clocking at 98 mph or harder, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play surpass a 95 mph exit velocity, cementing his reputation as a formidable hitter. Interestingly, his whiff rate on these high-speed pitches stands at 40%, significantly above the league average of 24.7%.
On the mound for the Pirates, Paul Skenes has been nothing short of extraordinary himself. With an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, he ranks fourth among major league pitchers, trailing only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Skenes' ambitions are equally lofty, as he aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game and seeks to join an exclusive club by winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year. The only player to achieve this dual honor to date is Fernando Valenzuela.
"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," Skenes remarked, reflecting on his previous encounters with Ohtani.
For the Dodgers, the stakes in this game are high. Currently holding a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West, their chances of making the playoffs are almost a given at 98.4%. On the other side of the diamond, the Pirates are in a more precarious position. They are 4 1/2 games back from securing the final wild-card spot and are struggling to maintain their postseason hopes after enduring a five-game losing streak.
This game holds particular significance as it 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 series between these two teams.
Tonight's matchup is more than just another game; it's a narrative rich with subplots and aspirations. Ohtani, the standout hitter aiming for MVP honors, will face off against the ascending Skenes, a pitcher with dreams of immediate greatness. As the clock ticks towards the first pitch, all eyes will be on these two stars to see who will come out on top in this thrilling chapter of their budding rivalry.