Once expected to be a key National League West series in advance of the calendar shifting to September, the Los Angeles Dodgers' three-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks has lost some bite.

While the first-place Dodgers enter Friday's opening contest coming off a three-game series sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, the Diamondbacks have a double-digit deficit in the division and are 6 1/2 games out of the NL's final wild-card spot.

Arizona dealt third baseman Eugenio Suarez, first baseman Josh Naylor, left-hander Jordan Montgomery and right-handers Merrill Kelly and Shelby Miller before the trade deadline last month.

While the franchise reloaded with several talented prospects, the idea that it was doomed for the remainder of the regular season has not yet come to fruition.

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