The Dodgers–Padres rivalry has never lacked energy; however, things reached a boiling point under the bright lights at Dodger Stadium. It was not just about a game—it was about pride, tension, and a moment which flipped the night on its head. When Shohei Ohtani found himself in the line of fire and Dave Roberts was tossed after a fiery protest, it was not just a manager standing up for his star. It was a sign that something vital was brewing, and when a veteran voice chimed in with a powerful verdict, the story took a turn no one could ignore.
A 94-mph fastball to Ohtani started it, and the umpires tossed Roberts out of the game to end it. However, that was not the fieriest moment of the night. The manager did not stop after the game and straight-up accused the Padres of intentionally targeting the two-way star in retaliation for a pitch to Fernando Tatis Jr. The Dodgers manager was crystal clear, saying, “Absolutely… I do feel it was intentional.” Such a tension does not just simmer—it explodes, and that is exactly what we saw unfold at Dodger Stadium as the rivalry between the teams found new gasoline.
Enter Pedro Martinez. The Hall of Famer embraced the rising animosity and compared it to the old-school Yankees–Red Sox days: “We did not like each other… and this is turning around to be a pretty good rivalry. I am starting to like it… I am loving every bit of it.” The veteran referenced the escalating back-and-forth between Manny Machado and Roberts and made it clear: this is not just baseball, it is personal.
However, Martinez did not stop at the rivalry—the Red Sox legend brought the focus right back to Shohei Ohtani, not just as a hitter, but as the ultimate dual-threat weapon who needs to be utilized effectively. “I do not like the fact that he might become a starter,” Pedro said, raising concerns about his sprinting around the bases and then being expected to pitch. Instead, Martinez envisions the two-way star closing 30 to 35 games for the team—fresh, fierce, and effective.
“When he has enough at-bats during the game… now we need you to go and close that game,” he added. For Martinez, the approach is simple: safeguard your star and enhance his magic without grinding him down.
Still, the rivalry only scratches the surface—because beneath the fireworks, the Dodgers are facing a much deeper issue: how to responsibly handle the most valuable two-way star in the game.
Shohei Ohtani’s return raises larger questions
The team expected Ohtani’s return to the field to be a triumphant moment after 18 months of waiting, and in some ways, it was. He fired 28 pitches in his 2025 debut, touched triple digits with his fastball, and showed sharp movement on his sweeper. However, as promising as it looked, it also felt… fragile. With no strikeouts and no clear follow-up approach, concerns are rising faster than his fastball velocity. Roberts summed up the uncertainty: “Don’t know when he’s going to pitch again… It’s kind of a week situation but not a hard-and-fast seven days.”
The Dodgers are walking a fine line between unleashing his unique capability and not overworking a body still recovering from surgery. The manager hinted at the issue: Do they build him up inning by inning? Do they keep it light and limited? Such indecision highlights how delicate the situation really is. In the aftermath of the drama with the Padres, the thought of Ohtani sprinting the bases one night and taking the field the next feels more fraught. It is a balancing act of risk and reward, and the team can not afford to lose the star they waited so long for.
The Dodgers–Padres rivalry may be grabbing attention; however, the real story could be the tightrope the Dodgers are walking with Ohtani. With Roberts defending him and Martinez embracing the chaos, the drama is only intensifying. However, as Ohtani’s usage remains murky, one thing is clear—every decision now could shape the team’s October hopes.
The post MLB Legend Delivers Strong Verdict on Dodgers–Padres Rivalry after Dave Roberts Accuses San Diego of Putting Shohei Ohtani at Risk appeared first on EssentiallySports.
