All you need to know about New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies

MLB London Series 2024 - New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies

Venue: London Stadium Date: Saturday, 8 June & Sunday, 9 June First pitch: 18:10 & 15:10 BST.

Coverage: Watch some games live connected BBC iPlayer, Red Button and nan BBC Sport website and app connected Saturday from 18:00 & Sunday from 15:00.

Major League Baseball returns to nan UK this play pinch different of nan league's biggest rivalries heading crossed nan Atlantic.

The St Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs shared past year's two-game series astatine London Stadium and now it's clip for nan Battle of nan Broads.

That's nan sanction fixed to nan rivalry betwixt nan New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies - because of Broadway successful New York and Broad Street successful Philadelphia.

The 'Polar Bear' and 'Showman' will beryllium among nan stars connected show during nan 2 regular play games and you tin watch some games unrecorded connected nan BBC.

With New York and Philadelphia 90 miles isolated connected nan USA's eastbound coast, their sports teams person agelong been rivals and aft nan Dodgers and Giants relocated from nan Big Apple to nan westbound seashore successful nan 1950s, nan Mets were formed successful 1962 to capable nan void.

As divisional rivals successful nan National League East, they and nan Phillies - 1 of nan MLB's oldest clubs having been founded successful 1883 - person since faced each different much than 1,000 times, pinch nan Phillies edging their head-to-head grounds (551-520).

Both are two-time winners of baseball's biggest prize - nan World Series - pinch nan Mets winning successful 1969 and 1986, while nan Phillies triumphed successful 1980 and 2008.

"They're from hardscrabble cities pinch hardcore fans truthful it's a very intense, nosy rivalry," says Joe Posnanski, writer of Why We Love Baseball.

The Phillies reached their eighth World Series successful 2022 and narrowly felt short past season.

They presently person nan MLB's joint-best grounds of 44 wins and 19 defeats while nan Mets are struggling again astatine 27-35, contempt their 2020 takeover by billionaire Steve Cohen having helped them besides scope nan play-offs successful 2022.

"The Mets are nan highest-paid squad successful baseball," Posnanski adds. "There were awesome expectations but truthful acold they've grounded to unrecorded up to them."

The Mets' payroll whitethorn beryllium $309m (£241m), but nan Phillies - who salary $246m (£192m) a twelvemonth - signed Bryce Harper successful 2019 connected a then-record $330m, 13-year contract.

"As large a prima arsenic location is successful nan game", nan first baseman often wears a headband featuring his nickname 'Showman'.

"He's a awesome powerfulness hitter," says Posnanski. "He tin deed a monolithic location tally astatine immoderate point."

Ranger Suarez came into this twelvemonth arsenic a "relative unknown" yet nan Venezuelan leads MLB pitchers pinch a 1.70 ERA (Earned Run Average), external and is expected to commencement connected Saturday, pinch Mexico pitcher Taijuan Walker scheduled for Sunday.

However, nan Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber could beryllium nan subordinate that UK fans "get nan biggest footwear retired of".

"He's this large brute of a feline who goes up to nan sheet looking to do 1 point and 1 point only - deed nan shot complete nan fence," Posnanski adds.

The Mets' powerfulness hitter is Pete Alonso, a burly first baseman nicknamed 'Polar Bear', while Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor is "certain to make a fewer dazzling plays".

Veteran left-hander Sean Manaea will beryllium their starting pitcher connected Saturday, pinch Jose Quintana taking complete connected Sunday.

Having made his sanction successful It's Always Sunny successful Philadelphia, it will travel arsenic nary astonishment to perceive that Rob McElhenney is 1 of those hardcore Phillies fans.

In nan show, his characteristic 'Mac' wrote a emotion missive to Phillies fable Chase Utley, saying he wanted to 'play catch' pinch nan 2008 World Series winner.

At his status ceremonial successful 2019, Utley threw nan first transportation to McElhenney, yet nan actor's relationship pinch nan squad goes moreover deeper.

While he and his woman - Always Sunny co-star Kaitlin Olson - were astatine a Phillies crippled successful 2010, she went into labour pinch their first child.

Now co-owner of Welsh shot squad Wrexham, McElhenney will beryllium rooting for his squad successful London and will propulsion nan ceremonial first transportation connected Sunday.

Fellow character Matthew Broderick, an avid Mets fan, will do nan honours connected Saturday.

This year's London games return spot connected 8 and 9 June, pinch nan first transportation being thrown astatine 18:10 BST connected Saturday and 15:10 connected Sunday.

London Stadium will characteristic accepted ballpark nutrient from New York and Philly, and past year's favourite is backmost connected nan paper - a 2ft hotdog.

From Friday to Sunday location will besides beryllium a shot show astatine Trafalgar Square, wherever Utley will beryllium joined by Gladiators Apollo and Fire.