In an unexpected twist to an already heated National League Division Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claims Padres star Manny Machado threw a baseball at him between innings of Game 2, sparking even more tension in this high-stakes matchup. “There was intent behind it,” Roberts told reporters Monday. “It didn’t almost hit me because there was a net, but if it was intended at me, it’s pretty disrespectful.” Roberts admitted he didn’t notice during the game, but seeing the video after left him feeling “unsettled.”
This Dodgers-Padres showdown has been anything but friendly. Machado, unflinching in his response, explained his own frustrations over Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty hitting Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch. “When you try to hit our best hitter, get him out. Don’t hit him, right?” Machado said, adding, “They got the best player in the game, right? (Shohei) Ohtani. We don’t go out there and try to hit Ohtani.”
Flaherty fired back, claiming it wasn’t intentional and accusing Machado of escalating things. “He did some s—t between innings where he throws the ball at our dugout,” Flaherty said, confirming tensions reached a boiling point. The dugouts didn’t hold back, and the exchanges between Machado and Flaherty became the latest in a rivalry that just keeps escalating.
Dodgers fans added to the tension by tossing objects onto the field, causing a brief delay after targeting Padres outfielders Jurickson Profar and Tatis. And that was just one part of the drama. The series kicked off with Shohei Ohtani’s powerful three-run homer leading the Dodgers to a Game 1 win, only for the Padres to storm back with a crushing 10-2 victory in Game 2, fueled by a six-home-run blitz from Tatis, David Peralta, Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, and Kyle Higashioka.
With the series shifting to San Diego for Games 3 and 4, tensions are through the roof. The Padres-Dodgers rivalry has hit a new level, and as fans, coaches, and players clash, this series is turning into must-watch baseball. When it comes to Dodgers vs. Padres, the heat is on, and the next game can’t come soon enough.