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.
Dodger cry babies
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.
Mays, Rose, Tiant. What a lousy year for baseball legends.
avenger – Don’t forget Cubbage, Bean, Brumley, Burroughs, Cepeda, Gardner, Grote, Gullett, Harrelson, Herzog, Holtzman, Jeter, Kranepool, McCarty, Ortiz, Ott, Virgil, Zachry, Williams and Washington to name a few.
They don’t make them like those guys anymore
Burroughs was a tragic story.
Tiant was a great one
Bucs – Every New England kid in the 1970’s imitated Tiant’s windup.
You must be a Padres fan
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.
Not all of the Dodgers are classless like their manager
Machado is the cry baby. You remember him when he came into the league? What a punk.
He has matured. He is now a father. That helps A LOT. I recommend this for every man. Be a father and be an attentive, involved father. Even ‘punks’ like Machado improve greatly.
Proton – pretty sure you are glad no one calls you what you were at 21 – well, if you are 21.
It’s called maturity and while I agree with what he was, you need to realize he hasn’t shown that character for the last few years in SD.
This reeks of desperation from Dave Roberts.
He brings the drama for sure and trying to get under Machado’s skin.
Yeah. Because sweet Manny Machado is such an angel.
You mean starting Walker Buehler in a pivotal G3? Absolute desperation. Yeesh.
Especially aftee he was robbed of an expensive watch at a horse racing.
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?
It was reported that while leaving he and his wife were surrounded by many people and someone unclipped watch band and took the watch.
Unknowingly robbed or was it collateral to Ohtani’s bookie?
More likely he was drunk and left the watch somewhere and didn’t want to tell his wife.
Watches are now just flashy jewelry. Yes, wearing expensive jewelry in uncontrolled areas is very risky business.
Desperation and corruption. This is dodger PR taking the story away from the disgusting behavior of their fans and Ken rosenthal amplified it.
All the series are tied at 1-1 after two games. Not tied at 2-2.
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.
here – Nick is a rookie, mistakes are to be expected. People need to cut him some slack.
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.
Life – We don’t know he’s getting paid, maybe he’s an intern?
Either way most readers are getting the articles free, so it’s kinda silly to complain about errors and omissions.
Nick has worked for MLBTR for at least 14 years, TD did a write up about him even in 2010. What’s the service time cutoff for rookie eligibility?
I also said he’s my favorite writer on the team, how is that not cutting someone slack?
here – You’re caught in a bold-faced lie. Tim said Nick was in High School in October 2016, that would make him no more than 25 years old.
So you’re saying he’s been working here since he was 11?
I can’t stand liars.
And BTW I said PEOPLE should cut him some slack, I did not say YOU.
Yea! It’s like people complaining about smog, the air is still free. What a bunch of maroons! Ahahaha!
The article wasn’t written 14 years ago? I see it was edited to add info about other writers, since when does a mistake make someone a liar? You sound like a real treat to be married to.
Point still stands that the man has been working there for 3.5 years, not 14. That’s still a rookie in your eyes? Should I now call you a liar and say how much I hate liars?
Also, no one was giving him slack then lol. You’re literally telling the no one complaining to give him slack. Maybe you should give other commenters slack, especially when you’re calling people who’ve been in a job for nearly half a decade as still cutting their teeth.
here – Age shouldn’t matter. I won’t research it, but if I had to guess his articles began around a year ago. I think he replaced the New Zealand guy. Either way, I’m defending the guy because so many people are pointing out his mistakes. I did it in a positive (he will get better with time) and truthful way though, rather than claiming he has been writing here for 14 years.
Giving him slack? Isn’t that the same as cutting him slack? LOL! Either way, Bob was doing it here, and plenty of other people with other articles.
I’m ready to move on here, I’ve defended him and that’s the important thing. And yeah I’m my wife’s dessert every day ;O)
We do know he is getting paid. They put up ads from time to time looking for writers and it always talks about getting paid.
I don’t pay BECAUSE of the errors. He is costing Tim at the very least my money. I’m quite sure I’m not the only one.
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.
I usually back Doc but this is a lame complaint. Weak, Doc, very weak.
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.
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.
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!
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.
I thought the same thing at first, but the ball clearly hits the dugout padding/netting then bounces on the ground. IMO it’s all gamesmanship — Teo and Flaherty jawed at Machado who took exception to Flaherty pitching Tatis inside and hitting him. Frankly I love all of it, it’s the good kind of postseason chippiness. I’m just stunned Roberts wanted to keep it going in the media presser a day later.
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.
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
Literally see that same throw toward the dugout ten times a game
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.
Nah, just give him a towel to cry into. It’s just postseason theatrics.
LOL! If I were Manfred, my response would be “Wait, you were serious about that?”.
“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.
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!
Dodger fans like Phillies and Mets fans have no class
Right! No class like the Pirates right?
Dodger fans now literally robbing one of their own.
Walker Buehler losing his 100k watch over the weekend is crazy but on par with CA
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.
Racetrack.
There either.
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.
Dodgers PR workin’ overtime today, fat checks come payday!
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!
Loved that Tiant. His pitching delivery was everywhichwaybutloose. RIP
Sad to hear. He was always a favorite of mine from back then.
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.
Machado…(points to head)…he ain’t all there.
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.
MLBTR needs to get an article up for Luis Tiant. Decent FIP of 3.47 in his career.
Rest in peace.
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.
LAD and their fans are soft.
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.
Let’s just wait until LAPD CSI forensics team finishes generating their official report after examining Machado’s exit velocity, trajectory, and field position.
Ice-T took one look at the video and said “Sheeeeeeeeet…”
If look more closely at the video, there was a second ball thrown towards Roberts from the grassy knoll.
Roberts barely escaped with his life! I just hope he can manage effectively this evening and he doesn’t have any long term lasting effects from such a traumatic experience.
I also hope all the fans are okay after seeing such violence in the baseball field.
“Back and to the left…”
This is no laughing matter. Roberts has been traumatized and so have I. I need to call my mental health expert.
You have one?!?! Jk Drasco, cheers bub
Prayers for Roberts
*We’re through the looking glass here people.”
It was Roger McDowell all along!
He must’ve caught a glimpse of us as we poured that beer on his head
“As I turned
around, I saw Roger McDowell behind the bushes over by that gravely road…”
“It was McDowell.”
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..
You might want to consider whether he cares about what you or any other fans think.
Roberts’ bootyhole is puckering up cuz he’s watching San Diego steal the Dodgers’ thunder again….
Here is the difference between the Padres and Dodgers…The Dodgers just let their fans do it and the Padres sent out an email to their fans that basically said. Bring the Noise and Energy but Stay Classy San Diego.
Petco is going to be rocking tonight, and I’ll be there.
Screw Screw Dodger Blue
Go Padres
Maybe if Macado had not ruined Pedroia’s career, purposely spiked a 1st baseman for no reason or thrown his bat at an opposing player this would be a non-story.
The whole Pedroia thing was completely over blown and wouldn’t have happened if Bogaerts made a competent throw. Manny didn’t alter his course in an attempt to break up a double play and players regularly slide over and through the bag. No runner is going to risk an injury jamming his leg into the base. The fact it hit DP was just bad luck.
I don’t even know if “spiking” Aguilar was that big of deal either. It seems way more risky to me for Machado than Aguilar and bumping a guys calf with your shin isn’t going to cause an injury.
For the record, I’m not a Machado fan at all even though I wanted the Cubs to sign him. He’s always appeared to be a selfish player (but I don’t know him personally or professionally so I can say that for a fact). I can say, from reports, that is very well respected in the MLB
You Dodgers scumbags don’t deserve another home game & I pray to whoever is up there you don’t win because I know how much you will enjoy it especially that arrogant spoonfed pr*ck Dave Roberts whose job anyone could do with that roster he’s been gifted. Scummiest fans and city on earth. Please God let San Diego finish this series at home. America is on your side, Padres. #BeatLA
always taking the high road Mickey. at least you are a dependable a-hole.
And there you have it……the reason the LA Dodgers didn’t even consider making Manny a long term offer when they had him after the O’s traded him. Bad teammate and clubhouse guy!
There what is had? Big ticket FAs rarely are extended before becoming FAs (ex. Trae Turner, Corey Seager). I bought into the false narrative that Manny was hot-headed many years ago and didn’t like his politics, but as a Padres season ticket holder, during Manny’s tenure with SD he’s been exemplary team leader on and off the field.
Maybe Machado has matured but I always hear how respected he is throughout the game.
Harper had/has the same reputation for a lot of fans but I’ve met and interacted with Harper quite a bit in the past and he’s always green great. As a disclaimer, I have Asperger’s and I have always gotten along best with people who have personality “quirks”
Of course, now that Machado is a Padre he is a model of rectitude. Please!
Escalating nonsense, Friendly rivalries are one thing but game two was beyond the pale, Who wants to watch MLB devolve into the WWE? Buck up. Earn the $$ you’re getting. Entertain us with your skill, not your egos.
Dave Roberts is not the right manager for the Dodgers. They need a manager with a poker face and a cool head; not one that’s thin skinned and gets all butt hurt about small stuff.
“Meanwhile” needs to start the sentence. As a conjunctive adverb, it can’t come in the middle between commas.