The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets find themselves in the midst of a high-stakes three-game series that commenced on Tuesday night. As the MLB season nears its climax, each game holds significant weight, especially with both teams vying for postseason spots. The Mets currently cling to a half-game lead on a wild-card berth, with the Braves nipping at their heels, trailing by the same margin.
In the series opener, the Braves drew first blood with a crucial win, narrowing the gap between the two teams. While the Mets can secure a postseason berth by winning two out of the remaining three games in this series, the Braves will need a broader strategy to solidify their playoff dreams beyond just this series.
Weather Adds to Uncertainty
The series, already packed with drama, may face additional disruptions from an unexpected factor: weather. Hurricane Helene, upgraded recently to a Category 3 storm by the National Hurricane Center, is poised to make landfall in Florida on Thursday. This development raises serious concerns for the teams and league officials alike.
The forecast predicts heavy rain in Atlanta starting from 1 p.m. Wednesday, persisting through Friday. With thunderstorms and potential tornadoes also expected, the climatic conditions could jeopardize the remaining games of the series. "Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States," warned the National Hurricane Center, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
MLB's Contingency Plans
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, no official adjustments had been made to the series schedule. However, MLB is actively exploring several contingency plans to mitigate the impact of Hurricane Helene. Thursday's game, initially slated for a 7:20 p.m. ET start, could be moved to an earlier time slot, possibly 1 p.m. ET or even 12 p.m. ET, to evade the brunt of the storm. Alternatively, a doubleheader on Wednesday might be a feasible option, considering both teams had an off-day on Monday.
Postponement and relocation are other cards MLB could play, though these are far more complex alternatives. Historic precedents exist for such drastic measures: the Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008 was moved to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, and the Rangers vs. Astros series in 2017 was shifted to Tampa’s Tropicana Field because of Hurricane Harvey. Globe Life Field in Arlington emerges as a potential alternate venue should the Braves and Mets need to be relocated.
Another option, albeit a last resort, is postponing the game to Monday, which falls on the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series. Such an adjustment would only occur if the game directly influences postseason qualifications. Consequently, both teams might end up playing a 161-game season instead of the standard 162 if a reschedule is deemed unnecessary.
Teams' Reactions and Preparations
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza commented on the evolving situation, noting that he had not received any word from MLB as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. The uncertainty weighs heavily on both teams, altering preparation and travel plans. While the Braves are fortunate not to have immediate travel commitments post-series, the Mets' schedule appears significantly more disruptive.
Given the fluidity of the situation, MLB officials are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Helene’s path and projected impact. Moving the Thursday game to an earlier time or scheduling a doubleheader on Wednesday seem to be the most straightforward solutions. Either option would allow the series to conclude as intended without significant alterations to the league's overall schedule.
As fans and players alike watch the skies, the outcome of this critical series remains shrouded in uncertainty, magnified by nature's unpredictable influence. For now, all eyes are on the diamond and the sky, each play, each pitch contributing to the unfolding narrative of a season defined by its twists, turns, and now, tempestuous weather.