The 2024 MLB London Series: Everything You Need To Know

The third installment of the 2024 MLB World Tour is fast approaching: the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets will compete in the London Series this weekend.

The Phillies are riding high, and they’ll jet off to London with a comfortable lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. They have been one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the ball this year. Fans in London can look forward to electric performances from the likes of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez, Jeff Hoffman, and Matt Strahm.

The Mets, on the other hand, are going through a long and painful rough patch. They’ve lost 13 of their last 20 and 20 of their last 30, falling nine games below .500 and losing ground in a crowded NL Wild Card race.

Perhaps a trip to another continent is exactly the reset this team needs to get back on track. The Mets have their problems, but a club with stars like Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo shouldn’t be playing like one of the worst teams in baseball.

Here is a rundown of everything you need to know about the upcoming MLB World Tour: London Series.

What Happened in the Last London Series?

The first London Series (and the first MLB series ever played in Europe) took place in June 2019, when the New York Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox in a two-game set. In front of nearly 60,000 spectators, the Yankees took the first game 17-13 and the second 12-8.

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals were supposed to face off in London the following season, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their matchup for three years.

Finally, in June 2023, MLB returned to London Stadium, with the Cubs and Cardinals splitting a two-game series. Chicago took the first game handily by a score of 9-1, while St. Louis came back to take the second game 7-5.

Who Is Playing in the 2024 London Series?

Another pair of long-time rivals will take the field in London this weekend: the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.

Unlike in the previous two London Series, there will be no designated “home team” this time around. Instead, the Mets will be the “home team” in game one, while the Phillies will take over as the “home team” for game two.

Does Either Club Have a Stronger Claim To Be the Home Team?

The short answer? Not really. Neither team has played in London before, nor does either team have any players from the United Kingdom on the roster.

Technically, London is ever so slightly closer to New York than Philadelphia. However, Chase Utley – MLB’s ambassador to Europe – will surely do everything he can to make his former team feel at home.

When Does the London Series Start?

After finishing up their games on Wednesday, both teams will have a pair of off-days on Thursday and Friday as they travel across the pond, adjust to the five-hour time difference, and prepare for the series.

The first game of the London Series will begin at 6:10 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 8, while the second game kicks off at 3:10 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 9.

Here is the complete schedule for the London Series:

Where Will the Series Take Place?

As in 2019 and 2023, the 2024 MLB London Series will take place at London Stadium in the Stratford district of East London. Originally built for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the stadium is now home to West Ham United F.C. of the Premier League.

Due to its large size and unusual oval shape, London Stadium is one of the few venues in the city capable of hosting a Major League Baseball game.

Names To Keep an Eye On

Unfortunately, there aren’t any UK-born players on either the Phillies or the Mets. In fact, there aren’t any UK-born players in Major League Baseball right now.

Interestingly, two players from the Great Britain national baseball team are currently playing in the Mets’ system: Andre Scrubb and Trayce Thompson. However, both were born in the United States, and neither will be on New York’s roster for the London Series.

The closest connection either team might have to the United Kingdom is Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson, who was born and raised in The Bahamas. Richardson served as the bench coach for Great Britain’s national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

How To Watch the MLB London Series

For viewers in the United States, game one of the London Series will air on FOX, while game two will be on ESPN. In the UK and Ireland, both games will be available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, and TNT Sports 2.