In a heated showdown between division rivals, San Diego Padres closer Robert Suárez was slapped with a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine Friday for intentionally hitting Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani during their game on Thursday night.
The incident unfolded in the ninth inning of the Padres’ 5–3 victory at Dodger Stadium. Following a tense exchange earlier—when Padres manager Mike Shildt accused Dodgers reliever Jack Little of plunking Fernando Tatís Jr.—the feud escalated when Suárez hit Ohtani on the shoulder
The Dodgers nearly cleared the benches again, but Ohtani himself signaled for calm, walking back to the dugout and defusing the confrontation .
Both of the opposing managers faced disciplinary action: Mike Shildt and Dodgers boss Dave Roberts each received a one-game suspension and fines for their roles in what MLB called “brouhaha during both halves of the ninth inning”.
Roberts weighed in on the league’s decision, saying, “I support it… I never want to make the game about the managers… both managers are protecting their teams, and it just unfortunately got to the point that we became the focus.”
Shildt defended his reaction, explaining he reacted instinctively to protect Tatís, saying he had “no regrets” about standing up for him and the team.
Speaking through an interpreter, Suárez insisted the pitch was not retaliatory: “I was never trying to get anyone into trouble or hit anybody… I was out there to try to save the game.”
Suárez has already appealed, allowing him to remain active in Friday’s game against Kansas City. Ohtani, despite being struck, resumed bullpen work Friday and looks set to return to the mound Sunday.
Both Shildt and Roberts begin serving their one-game suspensions Friday, with their bench coaches stepping in for the respective clubs.
The intensity between Padres and Dodgers reached a boiling point, resulting in multi-game suspensions and fines. With Suárez appealing, attention turns to how quickly Ohtani and both teams will move past the controversy.