The tension between the Dodgers and the Padres is nothing new, and it’s been brewing for years. Sure, the Dodgers have mostly had the upper hand in this heated rivalry, but that hasn’t stopped the Padres from taking plenty of swings, both on and off the field. So, the bad blood runs deep, and every matchup seems to bring a little extra drama. Now, Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is back in the spotlight, stirring the pot once again and reigniting a familiar debate that refuses to die down.
If you remember, the latest showdown between the Padres and Dodgers was less of a baseball series and more of a full-blown saga. The series witnessed eight batters being hit by pitches, and the benches emptied in a finale that devolved into a full-scale brawl. And at the center of the storm was Tatis Jr. Notably, Dodgers pitchers have now hit Tatis six times, more than any other team in the league.
Call it coincidence or not, when Tatis walks into Dodger Stadium, he’s bracing for impact. So, you can probably guess how he feels about playing under the bright lights in Los Angeles. During the Sunday night game against the Rangers, Tatis was mic’d up about his favorite stadiums to play in. While he mentioned Citi Field as one of his favorites, he concluded with “definitely does not enjoy Dodger Stadium.“
Yes, you heard that right. Tatis took a direct dig at the Dodgers—and that too, during a live game broadcast on ESPN! And this is not the first time that Tatis has taken a jab at Dodger Stadium. During the last Padres-Dodgers series, he was asked about the fans’ cheerful reaction when he was hit by a pitch, and his response was typical. “Everybody knows Dodgers fans.” He further reiterated that he didn’t like to play at Dodger Stadium. “I just don’t like it.”
Now, by repeating himself, Tatis has confirmed his dislike for Dodger Stadium, despite his impressive figures at the venue. Notably, he has 12 HRs from the 38 games played there!
Amid all this, the Dodgers couldn’t have picked a worse time to ignite the controversy by removing Tatis’ plaque from the stadium. In 2021, Tatis hit a 467-foot homer at Dodger Stadium—one of the longest ever at the venue. As per the Dodgers’ custom, they commemorated the hitting spot with a plaque.
However, due to some damage, the plaque was removed. Although a new one has been promised, the timing couldn’t be worse for escalating the sitution. While the plaque should have been reinstalled by now, there has been no update on whether this has happened.
Decorated rivalry of Padres-Dodgers far from over
Since the first game between the Dodgers and Padres in 1969, both teams have faced each other 970 times. The result? The Dodgers lead the series, with 535 wins over the Padres. But don’t get fooled into considering it a one-sided affair. This rivalry is much more than that.
The bad blood started flowing after the Padres had shed their underdog skin over the last few seasons. For instance, in the last 20 games between the Dodgers and Padres, the Dodgers have won 11, while the Padres have won 9. It’s been a close, toe-to-toe battle between the two teams. However, there were events like the 2022 NLDS, where the Padres defeated the Dodgers 3-1, that have ignited a new-era rivalry.
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers Jun 19, 2025 San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt 8 talks with Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez 37 as play is about to resume after benches cleared in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles Dodger Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20250619_jko_aj4_102
Just when it seems that the bad blood has subsided, a new source of tensions emerges. The next year saw another episode of this new-age rivalry, and again, Tatis was in the middle. The 2023 series saw multiple batters hit by a pitch, raising suspicions of retaliation and targeted pitching. In fact, Tatis was hit twice in the span of two games, sparking outrage from the Padres’ dugout. It was another instance where the benches cleared, though no punches were thrown.
The message was clear: this wasn’t just competitive baseball, it was something more. This time, Tatis’ remark confirmed that the rivalry is far from over, and there are surely more clashes to come.
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