The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres took a fiery turn last week when a pitch hit Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., sparking a heated confrontation as dugouts cleared. Padres manager Mike Shildt didn’t hold back, charging toward the Dodgers’ side with some choice words, only to be met by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in a tense face-off. Cooler heads eventually prevailed, but the incident underscored just how intense this matchup has become.

Baseball legend Trevor Hoffman, a Hall of Famer who spent nearly 16 seasons with the Padres and now serves as a senior advisor for the team, weighed in on the drama. He described the rivalry as having an old-school vibe, a raw passion where emotions run high because both teams are desperate to win. Hoffman sees these flare-ups as a sign of how much the game matters to the players, even suggesting that a little chaos might just be good for baseball.

Let’s not forget the context here—these two teams have clashed in the playoffs three times in the last five years. The Dodgers dominated in 2020, sweeping the Padres en route to a World Series title, while the Padres got their revenge in 2022, knocking out the Dodgers in the NLDS. This year, despite a valiant effort from San Diego, the Dodgers rallied to win the series and another championship. Add to that the regular-season stats, with the Dodgers taking five of seven games this year—and Tatis getting hit by pitches three times in those matchups—and you’ve got a recipe for bad blood.

Hoffman didn’t shy away from the retaliation angle either. With Tatis taking multiple hits, and Padres pitchers seemingly responding by targeting Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani twice, there’s an unspoken code at play. As Hoffman put it, when it’s your star player on the line, you protect your own. But he also emphasized the fine line pitchers walk—pitching inside is part of the game, but control is everything, especially when it comes to avoiding dangerous high pitches.

What’s clear is that these bench-clearing moments can light a fire under a team. Hoffman believes both clubs could channel this energy into their performance as they gear up for their next face-offs in August. With the Dodgers currently leading the NL West and the Padres not far behind, this rivalry is far from over—and we’re all here for the next chapter.

Baseball Rivalry News

Trevor Hoffman Backs Fiery Padres-Dodgers Rivalry After Tatis Jr. Incident