The Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to continue their intriguing weekend series tonight, featuring a highly anticipated pitching duel at 9 p.m. ET. The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and the Pirates' rookie sensation Paul Skenes will be facing off in what promises to be a captivating matchup.
High Stakes Showdown
This encounter marks only the second career meeting between Ohtani and Skenes. Their first clash back in early June at PNC Park set the stage for tonight's game. During that initial showdown, Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani, only for the multi-talented Dodgers star to respond with a towering 415-foot home run in their next face-off. Ohtani punctuated that game with a solid single in what was his hardest-hit ball of the evening, clocking in at an impressive 107.6 mph exit velocity.
Ohtani's prowess at the plate has become the stuff of legend, as he is currently batting as a full-time designated hitter due to recovery from pitching duties. Striving to make history, Ohtani is aiming to become the first full-time designated hitter to win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His performance against fast pitches this season has indeed been remarkable—Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against pitches of 98 mph or harder with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Additionally, nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity, underscoring his extraordinary hitting power.
Skenes' Meteoric Rise
Paul Skenes, on the other hand, is carving out his own slice of history. The rookie ace boasts an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, placing him fourth in the majors behind the likes of Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Not just content with his formidable fastball, Skenes is also aiming to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game while eyeing a rare achievement: winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year. Only Fernando Valenzuela has managed to do so, setting a lofty benchmark for the Pirates' prodigy.
Reflecting on his memorable first encounter with 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."
Playoff Implications
As the Dodgers and Pirates face off, both teams have significant playoff aspirations riding on the outcome. 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. In contrast, the Pirates find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot. Struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive, the Pirates are fighting to snap a five-game losing streak that has jeopardized their chances.
Tonight's game represents the final meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates for the year, unless they happen to encounter each other in the playoffs. Fans of both teams will have to wait until April 25-27, 2025, for their next regular season series.
The game promises to be a thrilling contest, with the intriguing dynamics of Ohtani's batting brilliance against Skenes' electrifying pitching. As both players look to etch their names into the annals of baseball history, fans can expect a night of high drama, skillful play, and unforgettable moments that underscore the essence of the sport.