Weekend Showdown: Dodgers vs. Pirates
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to continue their weekend series tonight at 9 p.m. ET. This highly anticipated matchup features Los Angeles' multifaceted star Shohei Ohtani and Pittsburgh's promising rookie ace, Paul Skenes.
Although both teams have their eyes on victory, much of the spotlight will be on the showdown between Ohtani and Skenes, marking only their second career meeting. Their first encounter in early June at PNC Park was nothing short of thrilling. Skenes struck out Ohtani in their initial showdown, but Ohtani retaliated by hitting a towering 415-foot home run in their subsequent face-off. The drama didn't end there; Ohtani later connected for a rock-solid single, clocking its exit velocity at an eye-popping 107.6 mph — the hardest-hit ball of the evening.
Currently, Ohtani finds himself sidelined as a pitcher but continues to contribute immensely as a designated hitter. He's poised to make history by becoming the first full-time designated hitter to clinch the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Ohtani's prowess at bat is underscored by his impressive stats against high-velocity pitches. Against pitches clocking at 98 mph or faster, he has gone 9 for 18, with an average exit velocity of 99.8 mph. Notably, nearly 82% of Ohtani's balls in play exceed a 95 mph exit velocity. However, it's not all smooth sailing; his 40% whiff rate on such pitches is above the league average of 24.7%, indicating areas where he can still improve.
On the mound for Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes is no slouch either. His average four-seam fastball velocity stands at a blistering 98.9 mph, placing him fourth in the majors. Only Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Ryan Helsley boast higher velocities. Skenes isn't just content with making his mark this season; he aims to become the first player drafted to start the All-Star Game while also harboring ambitions of winning both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards in the same year. Should he achieve this, he would join the rarefied air of Fernando Valenzuela, the only player to have ever won both awards in the same season.
The Dodgers, holding a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West, appear to be in a comfortable position with a 98.4% chance of reaching the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Pirates are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. Currently 4 1/2 games back from the final wild-card spot, Pittsburgh is grappling with the ramifications of a five-game losing streak. This game will be the last meeting between the Dodgers and Pirates this year unless fate reunites them in the playoffs. Fans wanting to see this matchup again will have to wait until their next series scheduled for April 25-27, 2025.
The narrative of Ohtani and Skenes isn't just about the stats and accolades; it’s also about the mutual respect and competitive spirit. Reflecting on their past encounters, 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."
As tonight’s game unfolds, all eyes will be on these two phenomenal players. Whether it will be Skenes' intimidating fastballs or Ohtani's explosive batting that steals the show remains to be seen. For now, the baseball world waits with bated breath, ready for another chapter in this burgeoning rivalry.