The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for another thrilling matchup tonight at 9 p.m. ET, continuing their weekend series. The game is set to feature an intriguing pitching duel between Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie sensation, Paul Skenes.
A Showdown of Talents
This evening's game marks the second career meeting between Ohtani and Skenes. Their first encounter earlier in June at PNC Park was nothing short of memorable. During their initial showdown, Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani, an impressive feat against one of the league’s most formidable hitters. However, Ohtani quickly rebounded, smashing a 415-foot home run in their subsequent face-off before hitting a hard single in their final at-bat that night. That single was registered as Ohtani's hardest-hit ball of the evening with an exit velocity of 107.6 mph.
Ohtani's Current Form
Currently sidelined as a pitcher while recovering, Ohtani has continued to dazzle with his batting performance. He is on a mission to become the first full-time designated hitter to clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. This season, Ohtani has excelled against high-velocity pitches, going 9 for 18 against pitches clocked at 98 mph or harder, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph on those pitches. Remarkably, nearly 82% of Ohtani’s balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity. Despite these numbers, Ohtani has shown a 40% whiff rate on pitches of 98 mph or more, which is notably higher than the league average of 24.7%.
Skenes' Spectacular Debut Season
Paul Skenes, on the other hand, has been making waves in his rookie season with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph. This places him fourth in the majors for average four-seam fastball velocity, just behind Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Skenes, with his stellar performance, is aiming to achieve a rare feat: becoming the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game. Additionally, he hopes to join an exclusive club by winning both the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Awards in his debut season. The only player to have previously accomplished this was Fernando Valenzuela.
Reflecting on his experience facing Ohtani, Skenes commented, "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."
Team Standings and Postseason Aspirations
The Dodgers currently hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and have a promising 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. In contrast, the Pirates find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot and are struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive following a five-game losing streak. Tonight's game marks the final meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates for the season unless they face off in the playoffs. Fans eagerly anticipate the next Pirates-Dodgers series scheduled for April 25-27, 2025.
As anticipation builds for tonight’s game, both teams aim to secure crucial victories. The Dodgers look to solidify their lead, while the Pirates strive to turn their season around and keep their playoff aspirations alive. The Ohtani-Skenes matchup not only promises a thrilling spectacle but also embodies the raw talent and competitive spirit that defines Major League Baseball.