As the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets embarked on their crucial three-game series, the stakes couldn't be higher for both teams. The Mets, holding a precarious half-game lead on a wild-card spot, are desperately fighting to clinch a postseason berth. Trailing just half a game behind, the Braves are equally motivated to capitalize on any slip-up by their rivals.
On Tuesday night, the Braves drew first blood, securing the series opener and narrowing the Mets' wild-card lead to just a razor-thin margin. This victory set the stage for a fierce battle over the next two games, with the Mets needing to win two out of three to secure their postseason spot. The Braves, however, need more than just this series to guarantee their playoff presence.
Weather Woes
Complicating matters further, the teams are keeping a wary eye on Hurricane Helene, which was upgraded to a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center in its 11 a.m. Wednesday update. The storm is anticipated to make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm on Thursday, bringing with it a swath of severe weather. Heavy rain is forecasted to begin in Atlanta by 1 p.m. Wednesday and persist through Friday, with thunderstorms and tornadoes also possible.
For now, the league has maintained the current series schedule, with Thursday's game set for a 7:20 p.m. ET start. But as the weather situation develops, MLB officials might have to make adjustments. To avoid the worst of the storm, one possibility is that Thursday's game could be moved to an earlier time slot, such as 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET. Another option on the table is playing a doubleheader on Wednesday, leveraging Monday's off-day to manage the logistical nightmare.
Relocation Contingencies
If the weather forces drastic measures, entire MLB series have historically been relocated due to severe weather. Notable examples include the relocation of the Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008 to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike and the Rangers vs. Astros series in 2017, which was moved to Tampa's Tropicana Field in response to Hurricane Harvey. In this scenario, Globe Life Field in Arlington stands out as a potential alternate site should relocation become necessary for the Braves and Mets.
However, relocating or postponing the game introduces complexities. Should the game be moved to Monday, it would fall on the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series. This adjustment would only be feasible if the game were crucial in determining postseason qualification. Both teams could end up playing a 161-game season instead of the standard 162 if the game isn't rescheduled, keeping the postseason timeline intact.
The simplest and most efficient options remain to either move Thursday's game up earlier in the day or schedule a Wednesday doubleheader. The Braves, fortunately, do not have to travel immediately after this series, providing them some scheduling cushion. Conversely, the Mets face a potentially disruptive schedule, making any adjustments particularly cumbersome for them.
Management Perspectives
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted he had not received any word from MLB regarding any schedule changes. Team officials and players alike are understandably concerned but are focusing on the games at hand while closely monitoring reports on Hurricane Helene's path. "Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains" are expected to affect a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States, according to the National Hurricane Center, adding a layer of gravity to the game's proceedings.
With so much on the line and weather threats looming large, the next few days promise to be an ordeal for players, managers, and fans alike. As MLB officials continue to monitor the hurricane's trajectory, the immediate focus remains squarely on the field, where every pitch and every swing could seal a team's fate. The Braves and Mets are poised for a fight not only against each other but against the clock and nature itself, striving for that coveted postseason berth against an advancing hurricane backdrop.