The incident kicked off when a fastball struck Fernando Tatis Jr.’s elbow. But quickly escalated from there as players from both teams rushed onto the field, amid a flurry of exchanges and verbal outbursts between Padres manager Mike Shildt and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. It was a scene that echoed the longstanding drama and tension between the Dodgers and Padres.
The moment didn’t just stir up tempers; it reignited one of baseball’s most bitter rivalries. And while MLB handed down suspensions, including a one-game suspension for Shildt, the Padres manager wasn’t about to let the narrative be written without his side of it.
In the days that followed, Shildt struck a different tone, briefly. He acknowledged the intensity and the consequences, even using the word “regret” when discussing how things escalated. But anyone expecting an apology tour from Shildt didn’t know him well. By the time he appeared on MLB Network Radio, his message had changed from reflective to resolute. He wasn’t walking it back; he was doubling down, only this time, with precision.
“We’ve got to take care of our dude,” Shildt said firmly. “Two good teams. Bunch of good dudes. Just competing… My hope is as we move forward, the competition will remain high, but it will be clean,” he further added.
The #Padres and #Dodgers will have two months to cool off before locking up again.#ForTheFaithful | #LetsGoDodgers
https://t.co/6YbqEWFvEp pic.twitter.com/fQUvzvzLtL
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 23, 2025
So, it’s all about respect. Shildt made it clear he’s not out to stoke chaos, but if the Dodgers think the Padres are going to roll over, that won’t happen. There is always an underlying tension between the Padres and the Dodgers. These are teams with history, with playoff scars and with superstar rosters that don’t like being shown up. And whether it’s Jack Little’s fastball brushing Tatis or Robert Suarez’s inside pitch to Ohtani, every moment feels loaded. Every inning carries weight.
Shildt’s message now rings louder than ever: compete hard, protect your guys, and don’t flinch. As the Dodgers-Padres rivalry ramps up yet again, one thing’s for sure: this fire isn’t dying down.
Padres vs Dodgers: A rivalry that refuses to die down
The Dodgers-Padres rivalry isn’t some media invention; it’s a volcano that has erupted time and time again. Just rewind to October 2022. San Diego shocked the baseball world by eliminating the Dodgers in the NLDS, as Trent Grisham and Jake Cronenworth delivered clutch hits in Game 4.
That series wasn’t just an upset; it was a statement. But LA doesn’t forget. In 2023, they won the season series with a score of 8–5, delivering a strong statement by sweeping an exciting May weekend in Los Angeles. The Padres retaliated in August by defeating the Dodgers in nail-biting innings. Every match had the intensity of a playoff showdown. The tension heightened when Manny Machado was hit by pitches in one series, which led to warnings from umpires. Although no fights broke out at that moment, the spark was definitely ignited.
By 2024, it was no longer just about standings; it was about territory. Shohei Ohtani wearing Dodger blue intensified a rivalry situation with San Diego, responding with a star-studded lineup and a sense of determination to prove themselves worthy opponents. The season series ended with a score of 7–6 in their favor; however, the message was clear. It was not a plain rivalry but rather a significant battle of identities.
Now, in 2025, when tempers flare and managers face suspensions, it’s evident that this rivalry isn’t fading. If anything, it has intensified even further.
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