Arizona Diamondbacks: Much anticipated NLDS against Dodgers begins

By Joseph Jacquez

Oct 6, 2017

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Jake Lamb #22 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a single during the first inning of the National League Wild Card game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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The Arizona Diamondbacks begin the National League Division Series with game one in Los Angeles on Friday night with Clayton Kershaw and Taijuan Walker matching up.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers are the best of rivals with fan bases that do not like each other — but the two franchises have never faced off in the postseason.

That changes tonight at 7:30 p.m. on TBS. Los Angeles and Arizona will do battle under the bright lights at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won the NL West and have the luxury of setting their rotation the way they want. Clayton Kershaw will start for LA in game one.

The Diamondbacks would have liked for Robbie Ray to start game one, but a short outing by Zack Greinke in the NL Wild Card game thwarted that plan. Instead, Arizona will go with right hander Taijuan Walker.

One overall theme to follow is the D-backs recent and overall success against their division rivals. The D-backs went 11-8 this season against manager Dave Robert’s club, which included two consecutive sweeps with one coming at Dodger Stadium.

Here are three storylines to think about and watch for concerning the Diamondbacks over the course of the series!