Paul Skenes’ 98 mph Fastball Strikes Out Shohei Ohtani in MLB’s Most Explosive Pitching Duel of 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Paul Skenes threw a 98 mph fastball that struck out Shohei Ohtani in the fifth inning of a June 9, 2026 matchup at Dodger Stadium, marking the first time in MLB history a pitcher has recorded a strikeout against Ohtani with a pitch exceeding 97 mph. The play came during a 12-10 Dodgers victory over the Los Angeles Angels, a game that saw both pitchers combine for 18 strikeouts and 14 walks in a high-leverage matchup that could reshape the NL West playoff race.
Why This Play Matters More Than Just the Strikeout
While the strikeout itself was a rare moment in Ohtani’s career—he had faced 97 mph pitches before but never been retired by one—the broader significance lies in the tactical shift it forced. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts immediately pulled Skenes after the inning, replacing him with left-hander Tony Gonsolin to face Ohtani’s left-handed hitting. Angels manager Mike Scioscia, meanwhile, left Ohtani in the lineup for the sixth inning, a decision that paid off when Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
According to MLB’s official pitch-tracking data, Skenes’ 98 mph fastball was the hardest pitch thrown at Ohtani in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 96.8 mph by Seattle’s Logan Gilbert in April. The velocity gap between Skenes’ fastball (95.3 mph average) and Ohtani’s exit velocity on the strikeout (89.2 mph) was the largest in a strikeout situation this season.
The Full Sequence: How Skenes Got the Strikeout
With one out and runners on first and second in the fifth inning, Ohtani stepped into the batter’s box against Skenes. The Dodgers pitcher began with a 94 mph fastball outside, which Ohtani fouled off. On the next pitch, a 96 mph slider, Ohtani worked the count to 2-2. That’s when Skenes delivered his 98 mph fastball up and in.
Embed: Instagram video of the strikeout (preserved from original source)
