San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado engaged in a tense exchange with reporters following a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The defeat marked the team's second consecutive loss in the series, intensifying scrutiny over Machado's offensive struggles.
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Machado is currently batting . 182 with seven home runs, a .
616 OPS, and a decreased hard-hit percentage of 43.7% this season.
When questioned directly about his lack of productivity and personal adjustments, Machado acknowledged the difficulty of his current stretch.
"My offensive struggles? … Yeah, struggles, man.
It’s been tough," Machado said.
He reacted sharply when a reporter pressed for specific details regarding his tactical planning and approach to correcting the slump.
"I’m a baseball player. I’m not a theorist, so… you got something for me?"
Machado responded.
The offensive slump extends beyond Machado to the entire San Diego roster, which holds the lowest hit total in the league at 349 and a major-league worst .
222 team batting average, while averaging 4.17 runs per game.
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The widespread regression has placed immense scrutiny on hitting coach Steven Souza Jr., who accepted full responsibility for the poor performance at the plate.
However, Machado adamantly deflected the blame away from the coaching staff.
"It’s the players. The players on the field hit or don’t hit," Machado said.
He noted that the players receive comprehensive information and support from the staff but have failed to execute.
Fellow Padres batter Nick Castellanos, who is hitting . 198 with three home runs, also supported the hitting coach.
"He has all of the right information. He goes above and beyond to give it to all of us," Castellanos said.
Padres manager Craig Stammen maintained a unified front, stating that the responsibility for the collective offensive failure rests upon everyone in the organization.
"We’re struggling. Who is to blame?
We’re all to blame," Stammen said.
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Despite the offensive deficiencies, San Diego remains competitive in the division race due to its pitching staff, which maintains a 3.93 ERA and has surrendered 39 home runs, anchored by a bullpen led by Mason Miller.
