The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for another face-off tonight at 9 p.m. ET, continuing their weekend series. This game promises to be electrifying, featuring Los Angeles' star Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's promising rookie ace Paul Skenes. This marks only the second time Ohtani and Skenes have faced each other in their careers.
Their first encounter took place in early June at PNC Park, a memorable clash where Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani. However, Ohtani didn't stay down for long. In their subsequent face-off, he launched a towering 415-foot home run. Later that night, Ohtani hit a solid single, the hardest-hit ball of the evening, clocking in at an impressive 107.6 mph exit velocity.
High Stakes Performance
Though Ohtani is currently sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, he remains a critical asset for the Dodgers as a designated hitter. He is ambitiously striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. So far, Ohtani's performance against high-speed pitches has been stellar—he has gone 9 for 18 against pitches clocked at 98 mph or harder this season. His average exit velocity on these pitches is an astounding 99.8 mph, with nearly 82% of his balls in play exceeding a 95 mph exit velocity. However, his 40% whiff rate on such pitches is notably above the league average of 24.7%.
Skenes' Rise to Stardom
On the other side, Paul Skenes has been a revelation for the Pirates. With an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, he ranks fourth in the majors in this category, trailing only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Skenes is not just satisfied with being a standout rookie; he aims to rewrite the history books by becoming the first player drafted to start an All-Star Game. Additionally, he's vying for both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year, a feat only Fernando Valenzuela has achieved.
Playoff Picture
While the Dodgers hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and have a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs, the Pirates are struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive. They find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot, compounded by a five-game losing streak. This weekend series could be a pivotal moment for both teams.
Final Showdown of the Season
Given this is the last scheduled meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year, unless they meet in the playoffs, the stakes are even higher. Their next series is slated for April 25-27, 2025, making tonight's game a crucial chapter in their rivalry. Paul Skenes reflects on his matchup with Ohtani, stating, "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."
As the clock ticks down to tonight's game, all eyes will be on Ohtani and Skenes, two players with the ability to shape the outcome not just of this game, but potentially their teams' seasons. The Dodgers will look to maintain their lead in the standings, while the Pirates will fight to keep their postseason dreams alive.