San Diego Padres All-Star Says Dodgers Sacrificed Tuesday’s Game Intentionally to Secure Crucial Series Victory at Petco Park

San Diego Padres All-Star third baseman Manny Machado didn’t mince words following a dramatic three-game series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, offering a bold take on what transpired Tuesday night. After San Diego secured a convincing win in the middle game of the series, Machado suggested the Dodgers had “essentially punted” that game to conserve resources and set themselves up for a critical series win.

“I mean, let’s be real about it,” Machado said during a post-series interview. “They knew what they were doing. They gave us Tuesday to lock up Wednesday.”

That statement sent waves through Major League Baseball’s already fiery Southern California rivalry. While some fans saw it as gamesmanship from the Dodgers, others took it as an insult to the Padres — suggesting that LA didn’t see them as a serious enough threat to go full throttle in every game.

To understand the weight of Machado’s statement, it’s important to consider the context of the series. The Padres had taken the second game in commanding fashion, riding the momentum of a six-run fifth inning and excellent bullpen work. But on Wednesday night, the Dodgers bounced back with a calculated, methodical win — leaning heavily on their rested bullpen and sharper bats.

The starting rotation Los Angeles put on display Tuesday night — highlighted by rookie hurler Landon Knack — left many scratching their heads. Knack, a talented but unproven arm, was given the nod in what appeared to be a throwaway start. He allowed four earned runs in 4.1 innings and was pulled early. The Dodgers didn’t follow him with their primary relievers, instead turning to mop-up duty arms to eat innings.

“Honestly, when you look at the way they managed that game, you could tell they were holding bullets,” Padres manager Mike Shildt noted postgame. “That’s not a knock. That’s strategy. They’re built for a long season, and they know how to pick their battles.”

The battle they picked was Game 3 — and the results spoke volumes. Tyler Glasnow took the mound for the Dodgers on full rest, dominating through seven innings while striking out 11 Padres and walking none. The offense, sluggish the night before, erupted with a three-run shot from Mookie Betts and timely hits from Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

That performance, and Machado’s reaction, sparked larger questions about how the Dodgers manage series strategically. With a deep lineup and veteran leadership, Los Angeles has long been one of the savviest organizations in baseball when it comes to player load management and opponent exploitation.

Padres closer Robert Suarez, who didn’t appear in the series-deciding game, gave credit where it was due. “You gotta respect what they did. They didn’t burn arms in a game they felt they didn’t need. And they came at us hard when it mattered.”

But not everyone in the Padres clubhouse took it as a compliment.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts was more skeptical. “You’re telling me they just decided to give up a game mid-series? That’s either a huge risk or disrespect. Either way, I’m circling our next series with them.”

For the Dodgers, the outcome validated their calculated approach. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was tight-lipped about whether Tuesday was truly a sacrificial play, but his subtle smile and short answer at the postgame press conference spoke volumes. “We played it how we thought was best for the long haul,” Roberts said. “Winning series is the goal. We did that.”

That mindset — not obsessing over every individual game but focusing on the larger arc — is part of why the Dodgers have remained at or near the top of the National League for the past decade. They’ve mastered the art of winning two out of three, knowing that consistency across series often matters more than sweeping individual matchups.

However, Padres fans and players aren’t letting the moment pass without pushback. The Padres’ victory Tuesday night wasn’t a fluke. They lit up one of LA’s most promising young pitchers, got contributions from nearly every starter, and displayed a level of urgency that has eluded them in past seasons.

“We came into this series wanting to make a statement,” Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “Tuesday was our night, and I don’t care what anyone says — we earned that one.”

Tatis and Machado have shouldered the burden of elevating the Padres to true contender status, especially in the wake of Juan Soto’s departure to New York and Blake Snell’s injury issues. There’s a palpable chip on the shoulder of this year’s roster — a team that knows it has underperformed in recent seasons and is hungry to prove doubters wrong.

Still, when you go head-to-head with the Dodgers, no matter the circumstances, every game becomes a referendum on your legitimacy. Even a win, like Tuesday’s, gets placed under a microscope and dissected — not just for what it was, but what it meant in the broader rivalry.

Veteran Padres catcher Luis Campusano weighed in on the “punted game” conversation with more nuance. “Maybe they did hold some guys back. Maybe they were looking ahead. But if you’re doing that in June, and we’re sitting right behind you in the standings, that’s bold. You better win the series — and they did. So tip your hat, but don’t forget that we’ll be waiting in August.”

The next time these two clubs meet is a late-summer showdown that could carry playoff implications. And thanks to Machado’s bold comments, the storyline writes itself: the Padres eager to prove they can’t be taken lightly, and the Dodgers calmly continuing their long game of chess.

Meanwhile, fans are eating it up. Padres-Dodgers was already one of the most bitter rivalries in baseball — a story of big-market flash vs. underdog grit, of banners vs. potential, of Hollywood lights vs. blue-collar swagger. Machado’s claim has only thrown gasoline on an already raging fire.

Social media erupted after his comments were published. Dodgers fans laughed off the idea, calling it an excuse or an attempt to justify a series loss. Padres fans, meanwhile, saw it as a sign of confidence — a refusal to bow to a club that has loomed large over the NL West for too long.

MLB analysts were divided. Some, like ESPN’s Buster Olney, agreed with the sentiment: “Look, Dave Roberts is one of the smartest managers in baseball. If he felt like Game 2 wasn’t worth depleting the bullpen, that’s his right. And it worked.”

Others, including former players turned broadcasters, bristled at the idea of openly conceding any game. “This isn’t the NBA,” said former All-Star pitcher Dontrelle Willis. “You don’t load-manage baseball games. Every win matters. If you start mailing in games in June, that can bite you later.”

But as the dust settles on the latest Padres-Dodgers battle, the bigger takeaway might not be who won Wednesday’s rubber match. It’s the growing sense that these two clubs, regardless of standings, are locked in a high-stakes psychological war as much as a physical one.

The Padres believe they’re good enough to challenge LA now. The Dodgers believe they’re smart enough to pick their battles. And both believe October is the only real scoreboard that counts.

For now, the standings show the Dodgers with a slim lead. The series shows Los Angeles winning two of three. But the fire Machado lit with one quote may blaze all summer long.

“Just remember,” he said before walking off, “there’s always another series. And we’ll be ready for that one.”

With that, the rivalry continues — fueled by strategy, pride, and a little bit of shade. Just how MLB likes it.