During Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout between innings, almost hitting manager Dave Roberts. Roberts called the incident “unsettling” and stated that the ball was directed at him with force behind it. The incident occurred after Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty struck out Machado and shouted expletives in the previous inning.
Eyewitnesses reported that Machado threw the ball with speed, causing it to one-hop into the netting near where Roberts was sitting. Machado claimed that he was simply throwing the ball to a ball boy as he often does, but Roberts expressed that if the throw was intentional, it was disrespectful. Machado later said he had turned the page on the incident and was focused on the next game against the Dodgers.
Roberts, who previously managed Machado during his time with the Dodgers, expressed his disappointment in the incident, stating that players should not be throwing balls at opposing managers. The confrontation initially began when Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, leading to tensions between the teams. Flaherty denied that the hit was intentional, and Tatis also did not believe it was deliberate.
Following the incident, tempers flared with Flaherty yelling at Machado from the dugout. Other Dodgers players, including Teoscar Hernandez, also reacted angrily. Many Dodgers team members believed that Machado had intentionally thrown the ball with force, contrary to his explanation that it was a routine toss. Major League Baseball is now investigating the incident and has requested video footage from the Dodgers’ security staff.
