The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, promising a thrilling encounter at the ballpark. The game features Los Angeles' star Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie ace Paul Skenes, marking only the second career meeting between these two standout pitchers.
Headline Showdown
The first encounter between Ohtani and Skenes took place in early June at PNC Park, where Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani in their initial showdown. However, Ohtani did not stay subdued for long, as he hit a 415-foot home run in their subsequent face-off. Moreover, Ohtani capped off that night with a solid single, his hardest-hit ball of the evening, clocking in at an impressive 107.6 mph exit velocity.
Despite Ohtani currently being sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, his impact as a hitter remains strongly felt. Mystically commanding the art of batting, Ohtani is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. This season, Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against pitches clocking 98 mph or harder, demonstrating his exceptional capacity at the plate. His average exit velocity on such pitches soars to 99.8 mph, with nearly 82% of his balls in play exceeding a 95 mph exit velocity. Even with a 40% whiff rate on these pitches, well above the league average of 24.7%, Ohtani's prowess remains unquestionable.
Rookie Ace on the Rise
On the other side of the mound, Paul Skenes is carving out an impressive start to his career. The rookie right-hander's average four-seam fastball velocity sits at 98.9 mph, ranking fourth in the majors, trailing only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. With ambitions that stretch beyond just extraordinary velocity, Skenes is attempting to become the first player drafted to start an All-Star Game. He is also aiming to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year—a feat achieved only once before by Fernando Valenzuela.
Reflecting on his previous encounters with Ohtani, Skenes remarked, "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." The mutual respect between these two great athletes sets the stage for a captivating game tonight.
Dodgers' Dominance
The Dodgers head into the game with a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. As one of baseball’s most consistent teams, Los Angeles aims to maintain their dominant run and capitalize on their strengths to secure a postseason berth.
Pirates' Playoff Chase
In contrast, the Pirates find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot, their playoff dreams dimming slightly under the weight of a five-game losing streak. Yet, tonight's meeting against the Dodgers presents an opportunity to reignite their postseason aspirations. With this game being the last encounter between the two teams this season, unless they meet in the playoffs, the Pirates are desperate to salvage a victory to keep their hopes alive.
Fans are already looking ahead to the next Pirates-Dodgers series scheduled for April 25-27, 2025, likely with bated breath to see how the teams have evolved and adjusted by then.
As the sun sets and the stadium lights blaze tonight, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on Ohtani and Skenes. Both phenoms are poised for another memorable showdown that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats, adding yet another chapter to their riveting rivalry.