During the off season, the Mets traded Zachry to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jorge Orta. In his two seasons with the Dodgers, Zachry pitched exclusively in relief, with the exception of one emergency start made in the second game of a doubleheader against the Mets at Shea on August 30, (he held his former team scoreless for six innings before giving way to the bullpen). He ended his first season in Los Angeles with a 6-1 record and 2.49 ERA, and returned to the post season for the first time since his rookie season. He appeared in games three and four of the 1983 National League Championship Series, both won by the Philadelphia Phillies by final scores of 7-2. In four total innings pitched, he allowed one earned run and four hits, while striking out two.