Arizona Diamondbacks
A brutal battle for NL West supremacy between the old guard and the new blood.
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks represents the most intense intra-divisional conflict in the National League West. Born from the Diamondbacks' entry into Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1998, this feud quickly evolved from a newcomer's struggle against a dynasty into a fierce battle for regional dominance. As neighbors sharing a division since Arizona's inception, these two franchises have collided repeatedly in high-stakes playoff series, defining the modern era of West Coast baseball.
While the Dodgers bring over a century of tradition and a legacy of World Series championships, the Diamondbacks introduced a new wave of aggression and speed that challenged Los Angeles' established order. This dynamic has created a cycle of resentment and respect, where every regular-season matchup feels like a playoff elimination game, driven by the constant fight for division supremacy.
- Rivalry Type
- Intra-divisional (NL West)
- First Meeting Season
- 1998
- Key Playoff Series
- 2017 National League Division Series
- Primary Venue
- Dodger Stadium / Chase Field
- Division Titles Contested
- Since 1998
Lore & Background
The origins of this rivalry are rooted in geography and timing. When the Arizona Diamondbacks joined the league in 1998, they were immediately placed in the National League West alongside the Dodgers, Giants, Padres, and Rockies. The Dodgers, already a powerhouse with a massive fanbase stretching across Southern California, viewed the new team as an interloper. Conversely, the Diamondbacks, fueled by a youthful energy and immediate success (reaching the World Series in their fourth season), sought to dethrone the established kings of the division.
The tension reached its boiling point during the 2017 postseason. In a dramatic National League Division Series, the Diamondbacks shocked the baseball world by sweeping the heavily favored Dodgers in four games. This series was marked by high drama, including a controversial play at home plate and the emergence of young stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Zack Greinke (who later returned to Arizona) against Los Angeles' core. The rivalry has since been fueled by frequent player movements between the two clubs, with superstars often switching sides, adding layers of personal betrayal and nostalgia to every matchup.
In Their Own Story
The air in the stadium is thick with heat, a familiar companion in the desert and the valley alike. On the mound, a Dodgers pitcher winds up, his eyes locked on the batter from Arizona who stands ready at the plate. The crowd noise is a singular roar, indistinguishable between blue and red, united only by the intensity of the moment. In the dugout, veterans watch silently, remembering the sweeps, the heartbreaks, and the triumphs that have defined their careers against this specific opponent. A strike is thrown, the bat cracks, and for a split second, the entire history of the division hangs in the balance of a single fly ball.
Reader's Guide
The origin of the Dodgers-Diamondbacks rivalry lies in the 1998 expansion that placed Arizona directly in the Dodgers' backyard. Unlike traditional rivalries built on decades of geographic proximity or shared history, this feud was forged quickly through competitive necessity. Both teams have consistently fought for control of the National League West, turning every regular-season series into a de facto playoff battle where division supremacy hangs in the balance. The dynamic shifted from a one-sided dynasty to a volatile power struggle as Arizona's early success forced Los Angeles to constantly adapt, creating a cycle of dominance and defiance that defines modern NL West baseball.
Did You Know?
- The Arizona Diamondbacks reached the World Series in only their fourth season (2001), becoming one of the fastest expansion teams in MLB history to do so, instantly establishing themselves as a legitimate threat to the D
- In the 2017 NLDS, the Diamondbacks achieved a historic upset by sweeping the heavily favored Dodgers. This victory marked the first time since 1985 that a team swept a division series after losing the previous two games
- Zack Greinke serves as the rivalry's most prominent figure of 'betrayal and redemption,' having been an ace for both franchises. His transition from Dodger to Diamondback (and back again) added intense personal stakes to