Matchup Index

Rivalries With the Most Lead Changes in Sports

The series where the all-time lead has changed hands the most times. Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds have traded the lead 38 times (MLB).

 

# SeriesLead changesRecordGames League
1 Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds1219-1168-14 in 2401 games · MLB 381219-1168-142401 MLB
2 Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles251-240 in 491 games · MLB 25251-240491 MLB
3 Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers1072-994-13 in 2079 games · MLB 221072-994-132079 MLB
4 San Francisco Giants vs Cincinnati Reds1244-1041-15 in 2300 games · MLB 211244-1041-152300 MLB
5 Los Angeles Angels vs Minnesota Twins397-371 in 768 games · MLB 21397-371768 MLB
6 Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs1085-1067-15 in 2167 games · MLB 181085-1067-152167 MLB
7 Cleveland Guardians vs Boston Red Sox1077-1016-8 in 2101 games · MLB 171077-1016-82101 MLB
8 Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox1011-966-11 in 1988 games · MLB 171011-966-111988 MLB
9 Los Angeles Angels vs Texas Rangers526-506 in 1032 games · MLB 17526-5061032 MLB
10 Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds246-225-1 in 472 games · MLB 17246-225-1472 MLB
11 Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants1299-1293-18 in 2610 games · MLB 161299-1293-182610 MLB
12 Minnesota Twins vs Athletics1036-1032-24 in 2092 games · MLB 161036-1032-242092 MLB
13 Texas Rangers vs Cleveland Guardians361-349-1 in 711 games · MLB 16361-349-1711 MLB
14 Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers1177-1171-12 in 2360 games · MLB 151177-1171-122360 MLB
15 St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers1131-1096-19 in 2246 games · MLB 151131-1096-192246 MLB
16 Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Angels236-230 in 466 games · MLB 15236-230466 MLB
17 Detroit Red Wings vs Calgary Flames89-84-16 in 189 games · NHL 1589-84-16189 NHL
18 Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox1149-1123-16 in 2288 games · MLB 141149-1123-162288 MLB
19 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings361-354-93 in 808 games · NHL 14361-354-93808 NHL
20 Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs242-232 in 474 games · MLB 14242-232474 MLB
21 Carolina Hurricanes vs Los Angeles Kings42-41-8 in 91 games · NHL 1442-41-891 NHL
22 San Francisco Giants vs Chicago Cubs1177-1100-26 in 2303 games · MLB 131177-1100-262303 MLB
23 New York Yankees vs Athletics1184-812-10 in 2006 games · MLB 131184-812-102006 MLB
24 Athletics vs Texas Rangers522-508 in 1030 games · MLB 13522-5081030 MLB
25 Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals471-438 in 909 games · MLB 13471-438909 MLB
26 Los Angeles Angels vs Chicago White Sox399-388-1 in 788 games · MLB 13399-388-1788 MLB
27 St. Louis Cardinals vs Washington Nationals350-323-1 in 674 games · MLB 13350-323-1674 MLB
28 Boston Red Sox vs Kansas City Royals271-250 in 521 games · MLB 13271-250521 MLB
29 Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers145-139 in 284 games · NBA 13145-139284 NBA
30 Pittsburgh Penguins vs Detroit Red Wings89-83-16 in 188 games · NHL 1389-83-16188 NHL
31 Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators92-89-5 in 186 games · NHL 1392-89-5186 NHL
32 Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators48-45-2 in 95 games · NHL 1348-45-295 NHL
33 Baltimore Orioles vs Minnesota Twins993-987-15 in 1995 games · MLB 12993-987-151995 MLB
34 Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels382-335-1 in 718 games · MLB 12382-335-1718 MLB
35 Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers170-159 in 329 games · NBA 12170-159329 NBA
36 Golden State Warriors vs Atlanta Hawks165-159 in 324 games · NBA 12165-159324 NBA
37 St. Louis Perfectos vs Louisville Colonels156-118-6 in 280 games · MLB 12156-118-6280 MLB
38 Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays97-96 in 193 games · MLB 1297-96193 MLB
39 Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox1144-1139-18 in 2301 games · MLB 111144-1139-182301 MLB
40 New York Mets vs Washington Nationals493-482 in 975 games · MLB 11493-482975 MLB
41 Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals442-392 in 834 games · MLB 11442-392834 MLB
42 Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets406-383-2 in 791 games · MLB 11406-383-2791 MLB
43 Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres280-274 in 554 games · MLB 11280-274554 MLB
44 New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers173-170-37 in 380 games · NHL 11173-170-37380 NHL
45 Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins129-123 in 252 games · MLB 11129-123252 MLB
46 Miami Marlins vs Colorado Rockies132-118 in 250 games · MLB 11132-118250 MLB
47 Utah Jazz vs Indiana Pacers51-51 in 102 games · NBA 1151-51102 NBA
48 Boston Bruins vs Brooklyn Americans57-32-11 in 100 games · NHL 1157-32-11100 NHL
49 Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds1222-1198-22 in 2442 games · MLB 101222-1198-222442 MLB
50 New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians1170-919-11 in 2100 games · MLB 101170-919-112100 MLB

How this list works

A lead change is the other team moving ahead in the all-time series, counted game by game from the first meeting. Drawing level and then going back ahead does not count, and series whose lead never changed sides are left out. Every league's rows compete for the same places, ranked by the same number.

Each row links to the full matchup page, opened on that league's numbers. Think you know who leads a series? Try the rivalry quiz.

More head-to-head records

Records include games through Oct 27, 2026.

Sources

Records are computed from every final game result in the Matchup Index database. About the data.