Games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have taken on added significance in recent years due to increased levels of tension and three postseason meetings since 2020.
So much so that some now consider the Dodgers and Padres to have one of the best rivalries in baseball.
Manager Dave Roberts gave credence to that earlier this season when he deemed the Dodgers and Padres to have a legitimate rivalry after being hesitant to do so in previous years.
During his appearance on the ESPN broadcast for the MLB Little League Classic, commissioner Rob Manfred said games between the Dodgers and Padres are beginning to have the same feel as the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, via Foul Territory:
“I think the Dodger-Padre rivalry is getting into that same zone that the Yankees and the Red Sox are, and have been.”
Although there is no denying the heightened attention, whether the Dodgers and Padres have a rivalry depends on who is asked. Max Muncy previously downplayed that notion and said the Dodgers’ only true rival is the San Francisco Giants.
In any case, there has certainly been no love lost between the Dodgers and Padres in recent years. Earlier this season at Dodger Stadium, benches cleared when Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch.
The incident led to Roberts and Padres manager Mike Shildt needing to be separated by players. They were later suspended for their actions, along with Robert Suarez, who hit Shohei Ohtani with a pitch.
Mason Miller excited for Dodgers-Padres rivalry
As the Padres look to win their first NL West title since 2006, they completed several big deals at this year’s MLB trade deadline.
Among their acquisitions was Mason Miller, who said he quickly learned what his new Padres teammates think of the Dodgers and is looking forward to being part of the rivalry.
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