The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET, with a highly anticipated matchup that features some of the league's top talent. On the mound for Los Angeles is Shohei Ohtani, who, while currently sidelined as a pitcher due to recovery, remains a formidable presence with the bat. Opposing him is Pittsburgh's rookie ace Paul Skenes, making for an intriguing duel between two captivating athletes.
Previous Encounters
This evening's contest marks only the second time that Ohtani and Skenes will face each other. Their first meeting in early June at PNC Park was a spectacle in itself. During that game, Skenes managed to strike out Ohtani in their initial showdown, showcasing the young pitcher's promise and poise. But Ohtani, demonstrating his exceptional hitting prowess, responded fiercely. In their next face-off, he launched a 415-foot home run and followed it with a solid single in their final at-bat of the evening, clocking in his hardest-hit ball of the night at a remarkable 107.6 mph exit velocity.
"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," Skenes remarked, reflecting on his encounters with Ohtani.
Ohtani’s Quest for MVP
Despite being unable to pitch while recovering, Ohtani remains a powerhouse as a designated hitter. He is striving to become the first full-time designated hitter to win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. His performance against pitches of 98 mph or harder has been nothing short of spectacular this season. Ohtani has gone 9 for 18 against such pitches, boasting an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Remarkably, nearly 82% of his balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity, even though his 40% whiff rate on these pitches is significantly above the league average of 24.7%.
Skenes Making History
Paul Skenes, with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 98.9 mph, is not to be outdone. Ranking fourth in the majors for average four-seam fastball velocity, Skenes is only behind Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley. The young ace is not just piling up impressive stats but is also chasing history. Skenes aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game and has his sights set on winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year. Achieving such a feat would place him in the rarified company of Fernando Valenzuela, the only player to have won both awards in his rookie season.
Postseason Prospects
As the teams clash tonight, their postseason trajectories couldn't be more different. The Dodgers are holding a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West, with an impressive 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. Conversely, the Pirates are languishing 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot, their playoff hopes dwindling amid a disheartening five-game losing streak. This game will be the final meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year unless they find themselves facing each other in the postseason. Their next scheduled series isn’t until April 2025.
With the stakes set and the history between Ohtani and Skenes adding a layer of intrigue, tonight's game promises to be a must-watch for baseball fans. The narrative of two extraordinary talents at different stages of their careers facing off under the lights embodies the essence of Major League Baseball – where the past meets the future, and every pitch holds the potential to go down in history.