San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado will not face disciplinary action for an incident during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, in which he threw a baseball toward the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout. According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Major League Baseball reviewed footage of the event, which occurred before the bottom of the sixth inning, and decided against issuing any punishment. The ball bounced off the netting in front of the Dodgers’ dugout, near the spot where manager Dave Roberts typically sits.
Here is video of Manny Machado throwing the ball toward the #Dodgers dugout. The ball had just been used by Yu Darvish to warm up. Kyle Higashioka’s throw to second bounced in the dirt, so Darvish received a new ball to begin the inning. #Padres pic.twitter.com/Wkf1L4Pff5
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) October 8, 2024
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic initially reported that the Dodgers had sent video evidence of the incident to MLB for review. After the footage circulated, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his discomfort with the situation, labeling it as “unsettling.” He elaborated on the matter, stating, “Obviously, I have a relationship with Manny from years past. There was intent behind it. It didn’t almost hit me because there was a net. And that was very bothersome.” While Roberts admitted he wasn’t sure if the throw was directly aimed at him, he acknowledged that it felt disrespectful and troubling, though he refrained from fully speculating on Machado’s intentions.
In response to the incident, Machado downplayed the situation, explaining that he frequently tosses balls into dugouts during games. Speaking to MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, Machado said, “I throw balls all the time into the dugouts. Both dugouts. They have bat boys, you throw the ball back in there.” His comments suggested that the action was routine and unintentional, though the incident clearly raised concerns for Roberts and the Dodgers.
Here is an alternate camera angle of San Diego 3B Manny Machado throwing a ball toward the Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout during Game 2 of the NLDS, obtained by ESPN. The incident remains a point of contention with Game 3 tonight, as @Alden_Gonzalez reported: https://t.co/grEVYusdPY pic.twitter.com/Qo0CGqqeVz
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 8, 2024
Despite the unsettling nature of the situation and the tension it created, MLB’s decision not to take disciplinary measures implies that the league did not view Machado’s actions as malicious or worthy of punishment. For Machado, who has a history with Roberts dating back to their time together on other teams, this moment added an extra layer of drama to the postseason clash between the Padres and the Dodgers.
The incident highlights the intensity of the rivalry between the two teams, especially in the high-stakes atmosphere of the playoffs. While no formal discipline will be imposed, the moment serves as a reminder of how emotions and perceptions can escalate during critical games. Both Machado and Roberts are experienced professionals, and this incident appears to be a minor bump in what remains a highly competitive series.
