With all four Division Series tied at two, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. NLDS Game 3 today:
Both sets of NLDS matchups will have their third games today. The Phillies and Mets are set to suit up at Citi Field in New York at 5:08pm local time. The Dodgers and Padres will take the field at Petco Park in San Diego at 6:08pm local time. In Queens, lefty Sean Manaea (3.47 ERA) will take the mound after a strong rebound campaign opposite right-hander Aaron Nola (3.57 ERA). The Dodgers will send former ace Walker Buehler (5.38 ERA in 16 starts) to the mound amid a season where he’s struggled to return to form after nearly two calendar years on the shelf following his second career Tommy John surgery. The Padres will counter with offseason addition Michael King (2.95 ERA), who has excelled in his first year with the club.
2. MLB investigating dispute between Machado, Roberts:
Tonight’s NLDS game between the Dodgers and Padres comes with an additional layer of intrigue as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that the Dodgers have asked the league to review an alleged incident between club manager Dave Roberts and third baseman Manny Machado, wherein Roberts believes Machado threw a baseball at him between innings during Game 2 of the series on Sunday. Per Roberts, the ball ultimately didn’t come close to hitting him thanks to netting around the dugout but was thrown with “intent behind it.”
Machado, meanwhile, told Rosenthal that his throw was no different from the way he’d throw a ball toward any dugout, but not before questioning whether Game 2 starter Jack Flaherty intentionally threw at Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. While it’s unclear if anything more will come of the situation following the league’s review of footage, the discourse following an already tense Game 2 that saw fans throw trash at Tatis and Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar seems likely to leave tensions high entering a pivotal Game 3 of a series currently tied at one game apiece.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
With the postseason now in full swing, 22 of MLB’s 30 teams have focused their attention on the coming winter while the rest of us have our eyes glued on playoff baseball. If you’re wondering about how the remaining contenders stack up with all four LDS tied 1 to 1 or how your club could approach the coming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 3pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
mad1
Dodger cry babies
Fever Pitch Guy
Don’t know where to put this as there’s no article on it yet, but all-time great Luis Tiant passed away at the age of 83.
He is remembered mostly for his years with the Red Sox, Indians and Yankees.
RIP El Tiante, thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.
avenger65
Mays, Rose, Tiant. What a lousy year for baseball legends.
Nolf10
You must be a Padres fan
BaseballisLife
I’m not a Padres fan, am a fan of a team in the other side of the continent, and I agree with him. It is the whiniest thing I have ever seen from a major league manager.
Simm
This reeks of desperation from Dave Roberts.
YankeesBleacherCreature
He brings the drama for sure and trying to get under Machado’s skin.
letitbelowenstein
Yeah. Because sweet Manny Machado is such an angel.
RunDMC
You mean starting Walker Buehler in a pivotal G3? Absolute desperation. Yeesh.
aragon
Especially aftee he was robbed of an expensive watch at a horse racing.
JoeBrady
Granted, I am skeptical of everything, but do people still wear watches, and a $100k watch to the racetrack? And don’t celebrities get private booths for just this reason?
aragon
It was reported that while leaving he and his wife were surrounded by many people and someone unclipped watch band and took the watch.
Dennis Boyd
Unknowingly robbed or was it collateral to Ohtani’s bookie?
BaseballisLife
More likely he was drunk and left the watch somewhere and didn’t want to tell his wife.
PhilliesBob1980
All the series are tied at 1-1 after two games. Not tied at 2-2.
herecomethephillies2018
Not a fan of game times all being listed as local times either. Nick’s my favorite MLBTR writer but this was a weirdly written article, must need another cup of coffee.
Fever Pitch Guy
here – Nick is a rookie, mistakes are to be expected. People need to cut him some slack.
BaseballisLife
No. If you are being paid for your writing, and he is, and you are asking people to pay to read his writing, and they are, then Nick needs to do much, much better. None of his articles would pass muster even at a small town newspaper.
hiflew
Let me preface by stating that I do not like Manny Machado at all. However, if he was trying to hit someone with a baseball, that person would be hit. Roberts is really coming across badly in this scenario.
wreckage
Don’t like Roberts, nor Manny, but no one is 100% accurate 100% of the time. Clemens didn’t hit Piazza with the broken bat. And Ryan didn’t hit Ventura clean with everyone of his shots.
Also haven’t seen the clip where this supposedly happened. Not sure why someone of Manny’s presence would throw at Davy’s at this time of year.
hiflew
Clemens didn’t throw bats for a living and Ryan didn’t throw punches for a living. Machado is one the best in the world at throwing a baseball though. He might not be 100% accurate, but he would be better than “it ultimately didn’t come close thanks to netting.”
YankeesBleacherCreature
@wreckage It’s also an auto game ejection and possible immediate suspension even in the playoffs. Why didn’t any of the umps catch it and phone it in to MLB HQ? You don’t have to like Machado but he’s not stupid and is a vet.
I Believe We Can Win
Throwing a warm up ball he’s using prior to ohtani coming to the plate into the dodgers dugout that bounces into the dugout is an auto game suspension? Since when lmao.
Seriously. Manny throwing a warm up ball softly into the dodgers dugout cause he plays 3B which is closest to the dodgers dugout to get ready to take the field warrants a suspension? No. No it doesn’t.
tiktok.com/t/ZTFPQxgHB/
YankeesBleacherCreature
If there was intent.
For Love of the Game
I wouldn’t call it “softly,” but Roberts was in no way endangered. Manny may have been trying to send a message. They’re both combatants and trying to get under their opponent’s skin. Best for us to just ignore both of them and their antics.
I Believe We Can Win
What intent? Lmao
Yu Darvish was warming up. Ball hit the ground. Catcher threw ball to 2nd then to manny. Manny threw the ball into the closest dugout cause Yu got a new ball from the ump.
Dave didn’t even notice the ball bouncing into the dugout
The whole thing is stuoid.
I Believe We Can Win
If a ball double bounces into a dugout it’s a soft throw and there’s 0 intent behind it esp since it was a ball that needed and was replaced during warm ups
A hard throw with intent is something 80 mph+ where you’re chucking it at someone with the intent of hitting them or scaring them. Kind of like when pitchers hit batters or throw behind batters.
JoeBrady
This feels like one of those sketchy moves that managers think will inspire the team. Most hitters have probably taken a 98 mph FB off of one of the body parts. So, meh.
Old York
@hiflew
Someone didn’t notice that errant throw in GM1 where he airmailed the throw way over the head of the 1B man. And that was in a routine play, not something where he was throwing from shallow LF or anything.
BaseballisLife
The ball rolled directly through the opening in the netting where the bat boy is supposed to be standing. Roberts was 5-6 feet from that opening and behind the netting. Roberts was not even paying attention because players throw in to the nearest dugout a ball that is being taken out of play at least once per inning. Often more than once per half inning.
I Believe We Can Win
Dave Roberts is a clown.
We have video of manny throwing the ball into the dodgers dugout and in no way shape or form would the ball have hit anyone hard. It literally bounces softly into the dugout
tiktok.com/t/ZTFPQxgHB/
JoeBrady
If that clip was the actual throw, the MLB should fine Roberts for unnecessary whineyness. Manny literally threw the ball on the ground right in front of him.
I’m rooting for the LAD, but what a nothing-burger this is.
Mojo37
I usually back Doc but this is a lame complaint. Weak, Doc, very weak.
straightuphonestguy
The funny thing is he is right. Machado was egging on him and the Dodgers dugout with some extra oomph on the dugout throw. I don’t know why you don’t go out and get in the ump’s face when it happens instead of waiting until the next day to state your case. I think the moment passed, and Roberts should’ve downplayed it when talking to the media on Monday.
Mojo37
maybe “he is right” but in the larger scheme of things the Machado ball toss is not worth blowing it up to an MLB review.
Settle the beef, all the beefs on the field, It’s time to put up or shut up. Go Blue.
straightuphonestguy
Should be a great game. I don’t mind chippy between players/clubhouse staff, just hoping no fans feel the need to retaliate for perceived slights. Good luck to LA!
BaseballisLife
The ball rolled into the dugout. We have all seen Machado throw on the target missiles across the diamond to the 1B. There was no extra oomph on that throw. If he wanted to egg on Roberts that ball would have hit the netting directly in front of Roberts. Instead it went exactly how and where you expected it to go. On the ground and to the opening into the dugout between the protective screen.
MR. Q
If you watched the video where Machado throw a ball to Dodgers dugout, prior to that it was used as warm up ball by Darvish.
Higgy tossed the ball to 2nd base but it hit the ground, and need to be replaced before the inning started. Machado scoops the ball and throw it to the bat boy at Dodgers dugout but then Dave is angry as he thought it was aimed at him. The ball even bounces 2 times before it reach the dugout as it was only softly thrown.
3 finger split
I’ve seen Machado toss a ball towards the third base dugout on more than one occasion and it’s never been with malice…Dave Roberts is begging.
Why would you poke a bear?
Tatis is as hot as the sun, so you hit him and now you whine about Machado?
Great job Dave…Losers Complain and Winners just keep finding ways to Succeed
MysteryWhiteBoy13
Literally see that same throw toward the dugout ten times a game
jdgoat
Lol. If the video that is circulating where Machado BOUNCES the ball into the Dodgers dugout and then Roberts yells at him is the one that he’s upset about, I hope the league issues a fine to Roberts for wasting their time.
For Love of the Game
Nah, just give him a towel to cry into. It’s just postseason theatrics.
JoeBrady
LOL! If I were Manfred, my response would be “Wait, you were serious about that?”.
whyhayzee
“Game 2 that saw fans throw trash at Tatis and Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar”
Those fans need to be identified and never allowed into a game again. Ever. That’s BS.
Brew88
It’s not BS to the few LAD fans that become annoyed by players who play with joy for the game and believe they can beat the Dodgers. I mean, how dare they!
Slider_withcheese
Dodger fans now literally robbing one of their own.
I Believe We Can Win
Walker Buehler losing his 100k watch over the weekend is crazy but on par with CA
This one belongs to the Reds
I would not be taking a 100k watch to the ballpark (I doubt I’d pay that much for one even if I made what he did). Just saying.
Slider_withcheese
Racetrack.
This one belongs to the Reds
There either.
Brew88
Roberts was also quoted as saying the Padres have enviable energy that his team lacks, and that they drew emotional energy from Tatis being plinked by Flaherty. Incredibly, Roberts then said that his Dodgers would not try to manufacture drama, per se, but needed to find an incident to draw energy from.
I guess so
What is especially bothersome, stealing Roberts’ term, is that this sort of nonsense only stirs potential for further violence with some fans in LA. Roberts might want to focus on the game instead.
Gwynning
A.k.a. “hot garbage”
Jomboy running some “identifying” vids today of a couple beer/ball tossers in LA. Those “fans” should be barred for life
Mojo37
security ejected the guy who threw a ball near Profar after the Mookie-robbing catch.
Brew88
I hope this doesn’t escalate in this week’s games. Padres FO sent email/ public address to Padre fans to stay cool, practice code of conduct. It’s just a game, but these are strange times.
Brew’88
LAD field security was impressive Sunday Mojo
YankeesBleacherCreature
Double-down and demand that steel cages be installed at both dugouts to help “protect players” at Petco. Then invite and fly-in Undertaker and Mankind to sit behind the Dodgers’ dugout.
Mojo37
Can one of them play 1B?
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
“As God as my witness, he is broken in half!”
BlueSkies_LA
I believe you are suggesting that it’s unusual for managers to get themselves into arguments with umpires or get themselves thrown out of games or otherwise jawbone in order to fire up their players. Because that never happens?
Brew88
Happens. Though the manager doesn’t typically openly broadcast the intent to manufacture a drama though through media interviews. I’m guessing some of the more intelligent players might not be as whipped into a frenzy by such tactic. But some violent fans might.
BlueSkies_LA
Not a lot of what happened on Sunday can be called typical and would not call it an effort to whip them up into a frenzy. Getting them to play like it really matters would be enough.
Brew’88
I get this is a tactic, we went through it in 2022 against the Mets with Musgrove’s sweaty ears.
And I think LADs look like they care and are playing hard. That steal by injuried Freddie was crazy bold. Hopefully Roberts can get them to play like it matters without making up drama, right after saying he needs to make up some drama – it’s not a great look. My hope is it plays out on the field, not through the national media.
3 finger split
I get that Freddy Freeman wants to win and I think he is a gamer and class act BUT if Dave Roberts gave him the steal sign knowing he has a bad ankle then that’s not crazy bold…that’s just CRAZY STUPID. Here is the problem that creates…Freeman can’t DH because Othani is the DH so you blow up Freemans ankle and now he either plays on one leg or he sits…. maybe pinch hit a la Kirk Gibson.
Gwynning
Dodgers PR workin’ overtime today, fat checks come payday!
For Love of the Game
Put down your swords for a moment. Sources are saying Luis Tiant just passed away. Another legend from my boyhood gone. “Vaya con Dios,” El Tiante!
Brew88
Loved that Tiant. His pitching delivery was everywhichwaybutloose. RIP
This one belongs to the Reds
Sad to hear. He was always a favorite of mine from back then.
JoeBrady
So freaking sad. He comes from that era of larger-than-life Cuban players, with one of the greatest mustaches of all time.
Geez man, RS spring training is not going to be the same. I know he’s not a kid, but 83 feels too young.
letitbelowenstein
Machado…(points to head)…he ain’t all there.
Old York
What I like about baseball is all the great actors at play in the presentation. Even though I understand it’s similar to WWE, it’s still fun to watch the drama play out. This should make for a good Game 3 performance.
Old York
MLBTR needs to get an article up for Luis Tiant. Decent FIP of 3.47 in his career.
Rest in peace.
Fever Pitch Guy
Old – Agreed! News broke hours ago, he’s earned a nice write-up. His 1968 and 1972 seasons were insanely good.
He might still be the last great free agent starting pitcher the Sox have ever acquired.
steven st croix
LAD and their fans are soft.
BaseballisLife
I have seen the video. The ball was thrown on the ground and went through the opening into the dugout 4 or 5 feet from where Roberts was standing. You see that same throw from players on both teams multiple times per game. That might just be the whiniest thing I have ever seen from a MLB manager.
I guess Roberts didn’t like his team getting their team kicked in in historic fashion at their house. Tough beans. Maybe play better next time instead of whining about a ball thrown out of play properly.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Let’s just wait until LAPD CSI forensics team finishes generating their official report after examining Machado’s exit velocity, trajectory, and field position.
DevoPettis
If look more closely at the video, there was a second ball thrown towards Roberts from the grassy knoll.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
I get that Roberts is just trying to fire his team up, but never in my life seen a more ridiculous complaint. REALLY, bad looks for the Dodgers, their fans, and their management this series..