The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers concluded a stretch of playing seven games in 11 days with seemingly heightened levels of animosity that has become commonplace over recent years.
There were eight hit by pitches during the four games at Dodger Stadium this week, including Fernando Tatis Jr. wearing two of those. The second of which came in the ninth inning on Thursday night and triggered both benches clearing.
Tatis was removed from the game and sent for X-rays, and the Padres seemingly exacted revenge in the bottom of the ninth by hitting Shohei Ohtani for a second time in the series.
As the Padres await final word on whether or not Tatis avoided a significant injury, Manny Machado offered an ominous warning for the Dodgers, via Alden González of ESPN:
Manny Machado said the Dodgers better “pray” that scans on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s left hand come back negative.
“They better put out a candle.”
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) June 20, 2025
Machado already has his fair share of history with the Dodgers, both through playing for the team in 2018 and in combative exchanges with their fans since signing with the Padres. He also threw a ball in the direction of the Dodgers’ dugout during the National League Division Series last year, and was vocal in wanting an ejection Tuesday night when Matt Sauer hit Jose Iglesias after warnings had already been issued.
Meanwhile, X-rays on Tatis’ right wrist came back negative before the teams left the stadium. However, the Padres have him scheduled for a CT scan and MRI due to the discomfort Tatis was experiencing and the initial imaging not being conclusive.
With tension reaching a boiling point, the Padres and Dodgers won’t see each other again until the middle of August. But a weekend series that begins Aug. 15 at Dodger Stadium marks the start of another stretch of head-to-head meetings as they will play six games in 10 days.
It concludes at Petco Park from Aug. 22-24.
Dodgers’ history of hitting Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tatis has been hit by a pitch from the Dodgers three times in seven games so far this season, and six instances in his career.
The first was as a rookie in July 2019, but then not again until March 2024. Tatis was hit by pitch again during a game against the Dodgers that May.
The sudden spike to being plunked three times can be traced to the Dodgers relying on pitchers without much polish or sustained success at the Major League level.
Lou Trivino has twice hit Tatis this season, and Jack Little was responsible for doing so Thursday in the second inning of his MLB debut.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cited the circumstances with each instance as clear explanation for there not being any intent behind them.
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