The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, much to the excitement of baseball fans. The highly anticipated game features two of the sport's bright talents: Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie ace Paul Skenes.
This matchup marks only the second career meeting between these two stars, drawing considerable attention from analysts and fans alike. Their first encounter took place in early June at PNC Park, where Skenes struck out Ohtani in their initial face-off. However, Ohtani quickly responded in their next battle, hitting a towering 415-foot home run. To cap off the night, Ohtani managed a solid single—the hardest-hit ball of the evening at 107.6 mph exit velocity.
Ohtani's Offensive Brilliance
Currently sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, Ohtani remains a formidable force as a designated hitter. He is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, a testament to his unique blend of power and precision at the plate.
Ohtani's performance against fast pitches is particularly noteworthy. This season, he has gone 9 for 18 against pitches of 98 mph or harder, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Moreover, nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity. While his 40% whiff rate on these high-velocity pitches is above the league average of 24.7%, his ability to connect makes him a constant threat.
Skenes' Rookie Season
Paul Skenes, with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, ranks fourth in the majors in this category. He trails only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley, demonstrating his rapid ascent in the league. Skenes aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game and is also eyeing both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in his debut season—a feat only achieved 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."
Team Standings and Playoff Race
The Dodgers enter the game holding a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and boast a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. Meanwhile, 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 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. The next series between these two teams is not scheduled until April 25-27, 2025, adding an extra layer of urgency to tonight's contest.
As both teams take the field, all eyes will be on the duel between Ohtani's batting prowess and Skenes' blazing fastballs. With each player seeking to etch their name into the annals of baseball history, fans are in for a thrilling showdown.
Baseball aficionados won't want to miss a moment of what promises to be a memorable game. The stakes are high, and the stars are aligned for an electrifying evening of America's pastime.