In an enticing weekend series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to face off once again tonight at 9 p.m. ET. This matchup brings together the talents of Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Paul Skenes, for what promises to be a riveting clash at the plate.
Historic Showdown: Ohtani vs. Skenes
This game marks only the second career meeting between Shohei Ohtani and Paul Skenes. Their first face-off occurred in early June at PNC Park, where Skenes initially struck out Ohtani. However, the Japanese star soon showcased his extraordinary hitting prowess. Ohtani hit a 415-foot home run in their subsequent encounter and followed it up with a solid single, marking his hardest-hit ball of the night at an astounding 107.6 mph exit velocity.
Currently sidelined as a pitcher while recovering, Ohtani remains a formidable hitter and is striving to make history. He aims to become the first full-time designated hitter to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His season statistics solidify his quest for this milestone. Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against pitches clocking 98 mph or harder, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Remarkably, nearly 82% of his balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity.
Skenes' Meteoric Rise
On the other side of the diamond, Paul Skenes' emergence has been nothing short of spectacular. The rookie ace's average four-seam fastball velocity stands at 98.9 mph, placing him fourth in the majors, trailing only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. Skenes is ambitiously aiming to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game as well as clinch both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year—a feat accomplished solely by Fernando Valenzuela.
The first encounter between Ohtani and Skenes left a lasting impression on both players. Reflecting on his previous experience against Ohtani, Skenes shared, "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 Aspirations
The Dodgers currently hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the increasingly competitive National League West, boasting a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. In stark contrast, the Pirates face an uphill battle to keep their postseason dreams alive. They find themselves 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot and are reeling from a disheartening five-game losing streak.
While tonight's game will be the conclusion of the series between the Dodgers and Pirates for this season, anticipation is already building for their next matchup, scheduled for April 25-27, 2025. Both teams are keenly aware that unless they cross paths in the playoffs, this will be their final opportunity to measure up against one another for quite some time.
As fans and analysts alike await tonight's showdown, one thing is certain: the duel between Shohei Ohtani and Paul Skenes will be closely watched, each at-bat a glimpse into the brilliance and potential of two of baseball's most electrifying talents.