The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets began a vital three-game series on Tuesday night, sparking intense competition as both teams vie for postseason positions. The Mets currently cling to a half-game lead for a wild card spot, with the Braves nipping at their heels, trailing by just half a game.
The Braves gained an early advantage by capturing the series' first game on Tuesday. For the Mets, the path to securing a postseason berth is clear: they need to win two of the next three games. On the other hand, even a series win for the Braves will not be enough to lock in their postseason status just yet.
Weather Woes Loom
The series faces an additional complication with the impending threat of Hurricane Helene, which was upgraded to hurricane status in the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. Wednesday update. The storm is forecasted to make landfall in Florida on Thursday as a powerful Category 3 storm, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States. Atlanta is also expected to experience heavy rainfall starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, continuing through Friday. With thunderstorms and potential tornadoes in the forecast, the situation is fraught with uncertainty.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, no adjustments had been made to the series schedule, with Thursday’s game still set for a 7:20 p.m. ET start. However, Major League Baseball (MLB) is actively exploring options to mitigate the impact of the storm. These options include moving Thursday's game to an earlier time, such as 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET, to avoid the storm's worst effects. Additionally, a doubleheader on Wednesday is a viable alternative given the off-day on Monday.
Possible Relocation
Relocating entire series due to severe weather is not unprecedented. Historical examples include the Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008, moved to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, and the Rangers vs. Astros series in 2017, relocated to Tampa's Tropicana Field because of Hurricane Harvey. Globe Life Field in Arlington is being considered as a potential alternate site should relocation be necessary for the Braves and Mets.
If the game were postponed to Monday, it would coincide with the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series, but such an adjustment would only occur if the game significantly affects postseason qualification. Both teams could potentially end up playing a 161-game season instead of the standard 162 if rescheduling proves too complex.
The simplest and most efficient options remain either moving Thursday's game earlier in the day or scheduling a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Braves are somewhat flexible as they don’t have immediate travel plans post-series, whereas the Mets face a potentially disruptive schedule.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza echoed the uncertainty surrounding the series. "I have not received any word from MLB as of 5 p.m. Tuesday," he noted, reflecting the ongoing deliberations among league officials who are closely monitoring Hurricane Helene's trajectory and impact.
As the series unfolds, the dual pressures of securing a postseason berth and navigating severe weather create an unpredictable and high-stakes environment for both teams. Fans and players alike are keenly watching both the scoreboard and the storm updates, hoping for favorable outcomes on both fronts.