Tempers were high as the NL Division Series heated up, tied at 1-1 going into Game 3 on Tuesday. Following a commanding 10-2 win by the San Diego Padres on Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts raised concerns about a troubling incident during that game—a throw by Padres star Manny Machado that seemed directed toward the Dodgers’ dugout, potentially aimed at Roberts himself.

In an emotionally charged atmosphere, Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty found himself embroiled in a verbal altercation with Machado after the Padres launched six home runs during the game, including two by Fernando Tatis Jr. The situation intensified when Flaherty had previously hit Tatis with a pitch, leading him to shout at Machado after striking him out with runners on base in the sixth inning.

Reflecting on the incident, Roberts remarked that he hadn’t noticed the throw at first but found it “unsettling” and “disrespectful” after reviewing the video. “The ball was directed at me with some intent behind it,” he said, noting that the protective netting prevented any physical confrontation.

Umpires responded to the situation, with third base umpire Tripp Gibson addressing Machado, but Roberts felt the intervention fell short. “I don’t think they should have just had a friendly chat. If players can throw balls at opposing managers, that’s a significant issue,” he pointed out.

Tensions rose further when fans at Dodger Stadium reacted by throwing baseballs and trash onto the field, resulting in a 12-minute delay in the seventh inning. The chaos erupted after Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar made a stunning catch, denying Dodgers star Mookie Betts a home run in the first inning. Profar’s celebration, where he taunted Dodgers fans before revealing he had caught the ball, only fueled the fire.

In the aftermath, Flaherty was straightforward about the incident, stating, “Machado did some stuff in between innings. He threw a ball at our dugout. There was no need for that.” Conversely, Machado downplayed Flaherty’s accusation, explaining, “I throw balls all the time into dugouts. Both dugouts. They have bad balls; you throw the ball back in there.”

Flaherty acknowledged that he could have managed the situation more effectively. “I’m not trying to be that guy who engages in back-and-forth with someone in the dugout,” he emphasized, pointing out the importance of focusing on performance rather than getting distracted by off-field drama.

As the Dodgers gear up for Game 3, Roberts is determined to channel the team’s emotions in a constructive way. “It’s good to take a day off, reset, and have a workout. There will be a lot of emotions tomorrow,” he noted. Having grown up in northern San Diego County and played for the Padres, Roberts aims to harness the intensity of the rivalry as a motivational force for the upcoming game. “Part of it is about drowning out the noise. The other part is using it as fuel. I believe we’ll collectively be ready to go,” he concluded.