Dodgers' Max Muncy praises Padres' antics ahead of NLDS Game 3

There's plenty of bad blood between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres ahead of Game 3 of the NLDS as the series moves to Petco Park.

After a contentious Game 2, Max Muncy explained an aspect of the NL West rivalry that was quite prevalent during the Division Series. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Muncy praised the Padres for their showboating antics and noted how they prey on the emotions of the home crowd.

“Just something as simple as a single and you see a guy throw the bat 30 feet in the air,” Muncy said. “It really gets the crowd going here. That's kind of part of their game, trying to get under your skin and bring out the emotions. Trying to get you to do something you don’t normally do.”

“For example, if you're a pitcher and you see a guy doing that, and all of a sudden you want to throw harder, and now you're missing balls right over the plate. And that’s where their boys are doing the damage.”…You can’t let that happen.”

San Diego's stars have never been afraid to celebrate their successes, even if it comes at the expense of their opponents' feelings. Muncy said it's just part of her identity.

The first two games of the series were anything but cordial. During Game 2, fans at Dodger Stadium caused a brief delay after throwing two baseballs toward Jurickson Profar in the middle of the seventh inning. They then littered the outfield grass with trash near Fernando Tatis Jr.

Jack Flaherty and Manny Machado were also seen in a war of words during the game, another example of these franchises' dislike for one another.

Muncy hopes the extracurricular events don't distract the Dodgers from focusing on getting a win in Game 3 in front of a pro-Padres crowd.