'Rowdy' party in store as capital plays host to baseball grudge match

"I DON'T think either club likes each other that much," says Dave Dombrowski of the rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies, of which he is general manager, and the New York Mets.

- Matt Majendie

Separated by just 80 miles-minuscule in American geographical terms -the two sides have played each other in excess of 1,000 times.

Over the course of this weekend, they will do battle once again inside London Stadium, with the Phillies the clear favourites to win as the best side currently in Major League Baseball.

It is the latest attempt by baseball to crack the European market, with London front and centre in that quest.

The last of the big US sports to make it over to these shores - its debut as recent as 2019 between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox baseball has been an early success.

In the second round of MLB games in the capital delayed until last year because of the knock-on effect from Covid - there was an average attendance of 55,000 fans over the two games and 71 per cent of those ticket buyers were from the UK. Both games this time are edging towards a sell-out.

The backdrop to the series is an intriguing one. The Phillies are the current favourites to add to their two World Series.