The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for an exciting continuation of their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, showcasing a matchup studded with talent and high expectations. This clash will feature Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani going head-to-head with Pittsburgh's rookie phenom, Paul Skenes.
Ohtani vs. Skenes: Round Two
Tonight’s game marks only the second career meeting between Ohtani and Skenes, a matchup that has already garnered significant attention. Their initial encounter in early June at PNC Park provided a scintillating preview of their capabilities. On that occasion, Skenes struck out Ohtani in their first showdown. However, in their subsequent face-off, Ohtani proved his mettle by smashing a 415-foot home run, followed later by a solid single. Notably, that single was clocked at an impressive 107.6 mph exit velocity, making it Ohtani's hardest-hit ball of the evening.
Commenting on their first meeting, 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."
Ohtani’s Season So Far
Currently, Ohtani is sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery but continues to be a driving force as a designated hitter. His offensive stats this season have been phenomenal. Ohtani is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, a testament to his exceptional hitting prowess. Against pitches of 98 mph or harder, Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 this season, maintaining an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph on these pitches.
Nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity, illustrating his consistent ability to generate power. However, he has a 40% whiff rate on pitches of 98 mph or harder, which is above the league average of 24.7%. This highlights an area where pitchers like Skenes, with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, could potentially exploit.
Skenes' Rookie Season Aspirations
Paul Skenes, with his blazing fastball ranking fourth in the majors for average four-seam fastball velocity, is making headlines in his rookie season. Only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley outperform him in this category. Skenes is not just looking to cement his place as a rising star but also has his eyes set on making history. He aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game and is vying for both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year—a feat achieved only once before by Fernando Valenzuela.
Team Dynamics
On the team front, the Dodgers are enjoying a strong position, holding a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West and boasting a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. In contrast, the Pirates are 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot and are grappling to keep their postseason hopes alive, especially after a disappointing five-game losing streak.
Tonight’s game will be the last meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year unless both teams find themselves facing each other in the playoffs—an increasingly unlikely scenario for the struggling Pirates. Fans will have to wait until April 25-27, 2025, for the next scheduled Pirates-Dodgers series.
With high stakes and star power on display, tonight's game promises to be a captivating chapter in both Shohei Ohtani’s and Paul Skenes’ burgeoning legacies.