Ohtani and Tatis Ignite Fiery Rivalry Between Dodgers and Padres

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres took another wild turn Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. The game featured hit-by-pitches, ejections, and a whole lot of tension.

Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. found themselves right in the middle of the chaos. It’s honestly hard to believe just how much these two teams seem to dislike each other, and every series just adds fuel to the fire.

Ohtani and Tatis Plunked Again: What Happened?

Everything boiled over in the ninth inning. Shohei Ohtani got drilled by a 100 mph fastball, making it the eighth hit-by-pitch of the series.

Earlier, Fernando Tatis Jr. took a pitch off his right hand from Dodgers rookie Jack Little. Somehow, this was the third time in just over a week—and the fifth time in 2024—that Dodgers pitchers have hit Tatis.

That’s not a stat anyone wants to see. Tempers flared, and both managers—Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts—started shouting at each other near the dugouts.

The argument got so heated that the umpires tossed both managers, plus a Padres bench coach and pitcher Robert Suarez. Tatis, clearly hurting, left the game with his hand bandaged up.

Injury Concerns for Tatis

After the game, Tatis admitted he wasn’t feeling great. His hand wrapped, he didn’t sound optimistic.

X-rays didn’t show much, so the Padres said they’d get him a CT scan on Friday. If he misses time, that’s a huge problem for San Diego’s lineup. They can’t really afford to lose him right now.

Manny Machado didn’t mince words after the game. He called out the Dodgers for being reckless and added, “Pray that Tati isn’t seriously hurt.”

Hit-By-Pitch Epidemic or Intentional Targeting?

This whole series has been a mess, with both teams accusing each other of intentionally hitting batters. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts defended Jack Little, saying the rookie didn’t mean to hit Tatis.

Then Roberts suggested the Padres hit Ohtani on purpose. It’s a lot of finger-pointing, and neither side seems interested in backing down.

Long-Standing Rivalry Comes to a Boil

The Dodgers and Padres just can’t seem to get along. They’ve played seven times in 11 days, which probably hasn’t helped anyone’s mood.

The Dodgers sit 3½ games ahead of the Giants in the NL West, while the Padres trail by five. Every game feels like it means a little more with those playoff stakes hanging overhead.

Unless something weird happens, these teams won’t see each other again until August. Maybe that’s enough time to cool off—or maybe not. Hard to say with these two.

What’s Next for the Dodgers and Padres?

Thursday’s game felt like a powder keg. The Dodgers need to keep their cool if they want to stay on top of the division.

For the Padres, everything hinges on Tatis. If he’s out for a while, their playoff hopes take a serious hit.

Looking Ahead to August

The next Dodgers-Padres series in August looks like must-watch baseball. The animosity between these teams is still fresh.

Both clubs are clawing for playoff positioning. The stakes just keep climbing.

Will cooler heads finally prevail, or are we in for another round of fireworks? Who knows—baseball has a way of surprising us.

For now, fans on both sides have to wait as the dust settles. One thing’s for sure: this Dodgers-Padres rivalry isn’t going anywhere, and it’s never been more explosive.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Ohtani, Tatis hit again as L.A.-S.D. feud boils over