Defending World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers will launch a summer of live Major League Baseball on the BBC when they meet the New York Mets on Sunday.
The Dodgers lead the National League again in 2026, with last season’s Most Valuable Player, Shohei Ohtani, to the fore as they target a third consecutive World Series title.
The struggling Mets are in need of inspiration from star man Juan Soto as they look to turn around a difficult start to the season.
The game sets up a run of 10 consecutive live Sunday night MLB matches on the BBC, including the season finale on September 27 before four post-season games the following week.
The Dodgers’ record of 65 wins and 38 defeats means they are likely to win the National League West for the 13th time in 14th years.
Their recent dominance is built around Ohtani, whose achievements are now compared to the greatest players in the history of the game.
His ability to both hit and pitch at the top level consistently – he already has 22 home runs this year and has recorded eight wins as a pitcher – demonstrates a similar skill-set to the legendary two-way player Babe Ruth.
Ohtani has been named Most Valuable Player in his league four times, including last season, when the Dodgers became the first franchise in 25 years to win consecutive World Series titles.
Juan Soto and the New York Mets need a big turnaround late in the season as they sit bottom of the National League East [Getty Images]
Dominican left-fielder Soto became the highest-paid player in baseball history in 2024 when he left the New York Yankees and signed a $765m deal with their bitter cross-city rivals the Mets.
He hit his 250th career home run against the Yankees earlier this season, one of 21 home runs he has delivered in 2026.
Despite Soto’s contribution, the Mets narrowly missed out on a post-season berth last year and now sit bottom of the National League East with 43 wins to 60 defeats.
This season, the MLB Bases Covered Live team will again be led by play-by-play announcer Melanie Newman, with former St Louis Cardinals first baseman Xavier Scruggs and Maccabees guitarist Felix White alongside to call the action for seasoned baseball fans and new viewers.
During the 2026 Fifa World Cup, baseball played an unexpectedly large role in the experiences of football fans and players from the UK as they enjoyed memorable outings to ballparks across the US.
After defeating Haiti in their opening game in nearby Foxborough, Scotland’s Tartan Army took over Fenway Park in Boston to celebrate while watching the Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers.
England manager Thomas Tuchel threw out the first pitch at Kaufmann Stadium when several members of the England squad watched the Kansas City Royals play the St Louis Cardinals.
How to watch: MLB Bases Covered Live
(all times BST)
Sunday, 26 July – 1830 – 2100
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
Watch on BBC iPlayer, follow on the BBC Sport website and app
Sunday, 2 August – 1900 – 2130
New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs
BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Sunday, 9 August – 1830 – 2100
Toronto Blue Jays @ Philadelphia Phillies
BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Sunday, 16 August – 1830 – 2100
New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday, 23 August – 1830 – 2100
St Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies
Remaining fixtures to be confirmed
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