The rivalry between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers has been a fiery affair for years, reaching a fever pitch last season during their NLDS showdown—a series that the Dodgers ultimately triumphed in. But as the calendar flips to a new season, Dodgers infielder Max Muncy has made it clear that he feels the Padres aren’t even on the same level as his team’s traditional nemesis, the San Francisco Giants.
During his recent appearance on Foul Territory, Muncy expressed his thoughts on what constitutes a true rivalry in baseball. He hinted at a certain disdain for the glorification of multiple rivalries, suggesting that a “real” rivalry is exclusive to one team. For Muncy and the Dodgers, that team is undeniably the Giants. “The Padres bring everything that is in a rivalry,” Muncy acknowledged, “but you only have one rival. I just think if you have a rival, it’s your counterpart, and that’s always going to be the Giants, for the Dodgers, at least.”
Muncy’s stance is grounded in the history and context of these matchups. He went on to draw comparisons to other iconic rivalries, emphasizing that for teams like the Dodgers and the Yankees, rivalries manifest in singular partnerships. “It’s always going to be the Red Sox for the Yankees,” he pointed out, underscoring that even though the Yankees and Astros have had some heated meetings, they still have a primary rival that defines their franchise narrative.
Interestingly, Muncy’s history with the Giants adds a personal flavor to his comments. The infamous exchange with Madison Bumgarner back in 2019, where he admired a long home run and was promptly challenged by Bumgarner to “run” rather than watch, became a memorable moment that reignited the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. Muncy’s retort—that Bumgarner should “get it out of the ocean”—demonstrates how these rivalries are often fueled by fiery exchanges and passionate moments on the field.
As the season unfolds, it’s worth noting the competitive landscape in the NL West. The Dodgers may lead the division by a slim margin of just half a game over the Giants, but they have to keep one eye on the Padres, who are only a game back. It’s shaping up to be one of the tightest division races in baseball, and while Muncy downplays the Padres’ status as rivals, the battle for supremacy in the West is anything but over. As these teams continue to clash, fans can expect this rivalry—however Muncy may define it—to rekindle the heat of competition that defines baseball at its best.
