We are just moments away from seeing Major League Baseball games appear in London, UK again. The New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies will face off in the third edition of the London Series starting on Saturday, June 8, 2024. So much has happened with both these ball clubs leading up to this point in the season. The Mets are coming off a much-needed series sweep against the Washington Nationals, while the Phillies are coming off a sweep of their own against the Milwaukee Brewers, which has helped them remain in first place in the National League East division. Here is a look at some of the important key points and expectations everyone should focus on as we get closer to the first pitch on Saturday.
What to Expect for Mets-Phillies London Series
Philadelphia Phillies
The power surge
It’s pretty clear at this point that the Phillies are loaded with talent. Just look at their 44-19 record and the ways they’ve approached that achievement. One of those ways is their ability to hit for power.
To start, Bryce Harper leads the team in home runs (14) and OBP (.378). That’s on top of being named the National League Player of the Month for May. It’s certainly going to feel dangerous for Mets pitchers to face this guy, given all his outstanding statistics. The Mets as a team are no stranger to Harper, however, having faced him thousands of times when he was a National. But the way Harper is playing now, don’t be surprised if he hits a couple of home runs in the London Series, which would only raise the home run and batting average numbers.
How about other Phillies offensive studs, such as Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos? These three players are likely going to cause some havoc at the plate. Bohm leads the team in RBIs (50), batting averages (.291), and hits (69). So, in other words, this is the guy you want to keep an eye on when he is at the plate. If he is leading the team in those three offensive categories, you know he is a dangerous hitter.
The star Ranger Suárez has become
This is very important. The 28-year-old Venezuelan southpaw will get the start in the first game on Saturday. If you take a look at his pitching statistics, you might be thinking “Cy Young candidate?” That’s because he has an ERA of 1.70, which is ranked No. 1 in MLB this season. And, his WHIP is also ranked No. 1 at 0.80.
Suárez has already pitched against the Mets in May. That was a game in which the Phillies won 10-5. If you’re Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, you have to be very careful about who you put in the starting lineup when you’re facing this guy. He has become an elite, reliable starting pitcher for the Phillies, and rest assured that he is hungry for another victory against a division rival.
New York Mets
The emergence Jose Iglesias and Luis Torrens
Now, let’s talk about the Mets, who have won three consecutive games after a dreadful 10-game home stand. You have probably noticed that during the current three-game win streak, Iglesias and Torrens have shown signs that they could be with the team for the long term.
Iglesias has at least one hit in every game he has played since being called up by the Mets on May 31. It’s amazing how quickly this guy has become consistent at the plate. He can also flash the leather defensively. Did you see how Wednesday’s game ended? He made a great play on a line drive that resulted in the final out of the game.
As for Torrens, he might as well get more playing time as a potential new backup catcher as Francisco Álvarez isn’t that far away from returning. During Wednesday’s game, he got his first two home runs and successfully caught a base-stealer at second base. So, these two young players should be in the starting lineup for both games in London. They’ve been providing so much depth at critical positions on the field.
The absence of Jeff McNeil
There hasn’t been a squirrel sighting for three games now. The former 2022 National League batting title champion has been benched and people are wondering if his days as a Met are numbered. So, the question is “Will McNeil play in the London Series?”
McNeil was struggling badly early this season before he got benched. He has only hit three home runs and 14 RBIs and now we’re in June. His batting average is down too (.227). These numbers, in addition to how well Iglesias is doing, certainly could be an indicator of McNeil’s future. We’ll see what Mendoza does regarding this situation moving forward.
Final Predictions
All that said, it will be an interesting and eventful two days in London between these two rivals. There are some questions that the Mets still need to answer, while the Phillies look to keep the good times rolling. All baseball fans should be excited to see what happens in these two games.
