'Attack him quick': Pirates pitchers weigh in on facing Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani occupies a prominent place within the Murderers’ Row of batters Los Angeles has assembled atop its lineup.

Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles’ usual 1-2-3 hitters) have captured a combined four MVPs as well as numerous other accolades including All-Star appearances and Silver Sluggers.

The Pirates pitching staff thus has a tall task at hand with the Dodgers playing a three-game series that started Tuesday night at PNC Park.

“What would Mike Tomlin say, nameless gray faces? The name on the back (of the jersey) doesn’t matter,” Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar said before Tuesday’s game. “You’re still going to attack and make good pitches no matter what.”

When it comes to Ohtani, Pirates starter Martin Perez can be considered the club’s authority on the subject.

In three of Perez’s seasons (2018, 2022, 2023) with the Texas Rangers, he routinely faced Ohtani, then on the Los Angeles Angels, in AL West showdowns. In 16 career at-bats against Perez, Ohtani recorded six hits — all singles — a walk and two RBIs.

Perez, who is on the injured list and won’t get a crack at Ohtani this week, offered a dissenting opinion from Bednar.

In short, a more specialized approach is warranted against Ohtani.

“He’s different. He can hit,” Perez said of Ohtani, who entered Tuesday’s game hitting .322 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs. “He’s smart, too. You’ve got different hitters. You’ve got hitters who can hit, and then you’ve got those who can hit, but they’re smart. Ohtani’s one of those guys. That’s why he’s the best.

“When you face him, you have to move the ball. You cannot stay one side of the plate with him because he’s going to kill you. You’ve got to move his eyes, move his feet, go up, make sure he’s moving his eyes.”

While Ohtani recorded a .375 batting average against the left-handed Perez, he also had as many strikeouts (six) as hits.

“When I was facing him, I’d always throw up and in,” Perez said. “When I struck him out, I just threw my best pitch with two strikes. I was always trying to throw the pitch that he never saw in that at-bat. Late in the count, I’d throw a changeup or a fastball down — things like that, when he was not looking for that pitch.

“I was waiting for the right moment to do it. He’s aggressive early in the count. When you’re behind the count, he’s just waiting for his pitch. So I think the key with him is attack him quick. Then you can make him think a little bit more.”

As far as the reigning Pirates batting expert against Ohtani (if such a thing exists), newly called-up catcher Henry Davis might qualify. Last July, Davis became the first MLB player to hit two home runs in a game against Ohtani.

But Davis and the rest of the Pirates lineup won’t have to deal with Ohtani on the mound, as the 29-year-old is limited to hitting only this season because of elbow surgery last September.

Bednar was not alone in his business-per-usual mindset against the Dodgers’ superstars.

Lefty reliever Ryan Borucki, on the injured list like Perez, squared off against Ohtani when he pitched for the Seattle Mariners in 2022. For Borucki, being too in awe of Ohtani’s reputation and prowess in the batter’s box constitutes a form of surrender before the at-bat even begins.

“You look at his scouting report, you see the things that you can exploit and you pitch to those,” Borucki said. “If you give him the benefit of the doubt because of his name, I think he’s got you there and that’s how he ends up beating you overall.”

Following Jared Jones Tuesday, Paul Skenes and Bailey Falter are the Pirates’ scheduled starters in the series.

Jones was impressive against Ohtani, striking him out twice and getting him to hit into a double play.

Ohtani (1 for 4) did manage a hit in the eighth inning off Arolis Chapman.

For Skenes and Jones in particular, facing the NL’s second-best club should constitute a good test.

“You’re going to get three MVPs at the top (of the lineup) and you just have to execute pitches,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “It’s really good for our young players to see a team of this caliber to see how you go out and execute.”

Skenes, set to start Wednesday, is ready to meet the challenge of facing Ohtani and the Dodgers’ stacked lineup.

“Just got to execute the plan,” Skenes said, “and hopefully it’ll work out for the best.”