The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets kicked off a highly anticipated three-game series on Tuesday night, with both teams jockeying for crucial postseason positions. The Mets currently hold a precarious half-game lead on one of the wild-card spots, with the Braves nipping at their heels, trailing by just half a game.
Game One of the series saw the Braves secure a significant victory, putting additional pressure on the Mets. For the Braves, while weighing heavily in their favor, this series alone won’t suffice to cement their postseason berth. On the other hand, the Mets have a clear path; winning two of the next three games would clinch them a spot in the playoffs.
However, the series is under the looming threat of Hurricane Helene, which was upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane in the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. Wednesday update. Expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday, the storm will bring heavy rain and possible thunderstorms and tornadoes to Atlanta, kicking off around 1 p.m. Wednesday and continuing through Friday.
Weather Threatens Scheduling
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, no adjustments had been made to the series schedule, but league officials are diligently monitoring the storm. The status of Thursday's game, currently set for a 7:20 p.m. ET start, remains a point of concern. Given the severity of Hurricane Helene, the MLB might consider moving the game to an earlier time slot, possibly around 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET, to avoid the worst weather. Another option on the table is playing a doubleheader on Wednesday, exploiting Monday’s off-day for both teams.
Historically, MLB has relocated entire series in response to severe weather. This includes the Astros versus Cubs series in 2008, which was moved to Milwaukee’s Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, and the Rangers versus Astros series in 2017, relocated to Tampa’s Tropicana Field in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Currently, Globe Life Field in Arlington is considered a potential alternate site should the Braves and Mets need to relocate.
Potential Contingencies and Disruptions
If Thursday’s game is postponed, it could be rescheduled for Monday, the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series. Nevertheless, such an adjustment would only come into play if the game is crucial for deciding postseason qualifications. If not rescheduled, both teams could end up playing a 161-game season instead of the standard 162 games.
In their final options, MLB might consider moving the game to a neutral site or beyond the regular season. Nevertheless, these measures remain complex and less likely. The simplest and most effective solutions appear to be either advancing Thursday's game to an earlier time slot or organizing a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Impact on Team Schedules
Following this series, the Braves do not face immediate travel demands, allowing some scheduling flexibility. Conversely, the Mets confront potential disruptions to their tight schedule after this series, adding another layer of complexity to scheduling changes. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted that as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, he had not received any directives from the MLB, saying, "Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States." This emphasizes the level of concern regarding Hurricane Helene’s impact.
With both teams vying for postseason berths and Hurricane Helene's imminent threat, the MLB’s decisive actions in the coming hours and days will be crucial. The integrity of the series and the teams' prospects hinge on how well the league navigates this challenging situation.
As events unfold, both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, along with their fans, will be glued to updates, keenly aware that each game and each decision could make or break their postseason dreams.