The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres intensified following a pitch incident involving Andy Pages and Dylan Cease. The confrontation unfolded as emotions ran high, with Pages accusing Cease of intentionally hitting him earlier in the game.
After the incident, Padres manager Mike Shildt was seen confronting the situation, exclaiming,
Who do you think you are?
The tension did not end there; Padres’ star Manny Machado also commented on the growing rivalry and Pages’ role in it. Machado said,
They got way more superstars over there if we want to hit somebody, They’ve got some big dogs over there we could hit. This game is crazy, right? This rivalry. It’s back and forth. Playing this competition, things get heated.
He further acknowledged Pages’ performance, stating,
You want to go out there and compete. He’s having a helluva year. He’s going to continue having a helluva year. Rooting for him, but it’s just part of the game.
As the rivalry escalated, the subsequent game saw both Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit by pitches, representing the star players—the so-called “big dogs”—of each team. Despite this, Andy Pages’ outstanding performance stole the spotlight. On June 17, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Pages slammed two home runs and went 4-for-4 overall, contributing three RBIs in the Dodgers’ 8-6 win over the Padres.
Following Pages’ first home run, the Dodgers showcased their pride on social media by dubbing him “Big dog, Andy Pages.” After his second homer, they responded emphatically to Shildt’s earlier challenge by posting a message that read,
AND THAT’S WHO ANDY PAGES IS!
This moment signified more than just a strong individual performance. With Pages establishing himself as a towering presence for Los Angeles, the Dodgers seem to have found their own vibrant force, akin to how Andres Galarraga was known as the “Big Cat.” Now, the Dodgers can boast the arrival of their “Big Dog.”