The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets began a pivotal three-game series on Tuesday night, one that is rife with postseason implications. The Mets currently hold a tenuous half-game lead for a wild-card spot, a slim margin that underscores the high stakes of this late-season matchup. Hot on their heels are the Braves, trailing just half a game behind. This close race adds an extra layer of drama to the series, which started with the Braves securing the first win on Tuesday.
For the Mets, winning two out of the next three games would clinch their postseason berth, a critical target as the regular season winds down. Conversely, the Braves face a more arduous path; triumphing in this series alone will not secure their spot in the postseason. Meanwhile, a looming threat from Mother Nature adds another twist to this narrative. Hurricane Helene was upgraded to a hurricane in the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. Wednesday update, and it's anticipated to make landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 3 storm. This storm is expected to bring widespread disruption, including heavy rain forecasted to begin in Atlanta by 1 p.m. Wednesday and persist through Friday. The weather forecast also includes potential thunderstorms and tornadoes in Atlanta during this period.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, MLB had not made any adjustments to the series schedule. Thursday's game is currently scheduled for a 7:20 p.m. ET start, but with the impending severe weather, MLB officials are considering moving the game to an earlier time slot on Thursday, such as 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET, to avoid the worst of the storm. Another option under consideration includes scheduling a doubleheader on Wednesday, taking advantage of Monday’s off-day. There is precedent for such accommodations as entire MLB series have been relocated in the past due to severe weather conditions. Notable examples include the Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008, which was 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.
The possibility of relocating the Braves and Mets series to an alternate site such as Globe Life Field in Arlington has also been mentioned should the weather conditions in Atlanta necessitate such a move. Postponing the game to Monday, which would fall on the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series, could also be considered, but only if the game holds significant weight in determining postseason qualification. In such a scenario, both teams might end up playing a 161-game season instead of the standard 162 if the game is not rescheduled.
Relocating the game to a neutral site or rescheduling it post-regular season remains a complex last resort, with the simplest and most efficient options being to either move Thursday’s game up to earlier in the day or schedule a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Braves benefit from not having to travel immediately after this series, unlike the Mets, who face a potentially disruptive schedule following this series.
Throughout this scheduling uncertainty, MLB officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Helene's path, remaining vigilant about any adjustments that might need to be made. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States,” highlighting the severity of the approaching storm.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted he had not received any communication from MLB as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, leaving both teams and fans anxiously awaiting any updates. With postseason dreams hanging in the balance and a major hurricane on the horizon, the outcome of this series promises to be a dramatic and closely watched event in the world of baseball.