The long-simmering rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres exploded again Thursday night — this time with real consequences and real threats. After Fernando Tatis Jr. was drilled in the left hand by a pitch in the top of the ninth inning, Padres star Manny Machado didn’t hold back, delivering a warning that echoed across the league
“Let’s just hope the CT scan comes back negative,” Machado said postgame. “They gotta pray it comes back negative tomorrow.” He continued ominously: “They need to set a little candle up for Tati tomorrow and hope that everything comes back negative.”
Dodgers-Padre Rivalry Boils Over as Machado Issues Fiery Warning After Tatis Jr. HBP
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Jack Little, making his MLB debut, hit Tatis with a fastball inside — a pitch that led to immediate chaos. Benches cleared. Managers Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts had to be physically restrained. Roberts later claimed the hit wasn’t intentional but admitted he “didn’t feel good” about it. “I felt that [Shildt] was trying to make it personal with me,” Roberts said. “Which then, I take it personal.”
Shildt wasn’t buying it. “Enough’s enough,” he said. “Intentional, unintentional — the fact of the matter is I took exception with it.” Shildt noted that Tatis has now been hit by Dodgers pitchers six times, two more than any other team.
Later in the same inning, closer Robert Suarez hit Shohei Ohtani square in the back on a 3-0 pitch, prompting his immediate ejection. Ohtani, despite clearly being frustrated, urged his teammates to stay in the dugout and trotted to first base — a veteran move that likely prevented a full-on brawl.
Los Angeles Dodgers Face Padres In August
Though Thursday’s game ended in a 5–3 Padres win, the real fireworks might still be coming. The two teams won’t meet again until August — but with Tatis bruised, Ohtani hit, and Machado issuing not-so-subtle threats, that series already has the makings of another powder keg.
As this heated rivalry continues to escalate, one thing is clear: peace is no longer an option.