Excitement is contagious, and excitement is building. This week the socials have been awash with MLB London content, it having been three years to the day on June 29 that the Yankees and Red Sox pitched up in East London and traded dingers.
In the first of a three-part series ahead of the big reveal of the teams coming to London next year, I am highlighting some of the potential matchups we’d love to see in 2023.
#youlovetoseeit
Dodgers-Giants
No mucking about here. Two heavyweights and a rivalry so historic it transcends three centuries and three cities. They’ve played over 2,500 games against each other and are currently separated by just 23 wins, the Giants leading 1273-1250-17 as of now. Both teams will be above .500 on July 4, with the big-spending Dodgers fast approaching 50 wins. I would pay silly money to watch Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman hitting against the two Brandons (Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford) in the infield for San Francisco.
Mariners-Angels
Recency bias is a wonderful thing. Perhaps in a few weeks, we’ll have forgotten all about the wondrous dust-up between the Mariners and the Angels. Probably not though – it was one for the ages.
Again, the logistics of two West Coast teams coming to play might be difficult but nothing is impossible. Just ask Shohei Ohtani, who at the time of publication has 49 RBI, an .855 OPS, eight stolen bases, a 2.68 ERA, 101 strikeouts and seven wins. Ohtani is as good a draw as any superstar for a London series. The Mariners have a great UK fan contingent who deserve a little more good luck in their lives.
Mets-Phillies
Okay, so this one is a little more hope than expectation, being a Met fan myself (and yes, I will die on the ‘Met fan, not Mets fan’ hill). That said, it’s a great rivalry, and there’s a chance that the greatest pitcher in the world, Jacob deGrom (another hill, another death) would be on the mound. And if not deGrom, then Max Scherzer. Maybe both?! It would be a blast. The Phillies, for their part, seem to be determined to exclusively hit home runs and play dreadful defence, which would be highly entertaining, too. It would be wonderful to see these two fanbases in the capital, and Bryce Harper has the star power to be a big draw.
What do you think of my potential matchups? Get involved on Twitter and let us know who you’d love to see face off next summer at the London Stadium.
Featured image of the London Stadium by MLB Europe on Twitter
Joshua Edwards is a long-suffering Met fan and the London Series correspondent for Bat Flips & Nerds. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshwa_1990