Atlanta Braves Begin Crucial Series Against New York Mets Amid Hurricane Threat
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets commenced a pivotal three-game series on Tuesday night, with both teams vying for playoff positions. The Mets currently hold a tenuous half-game lead on a wild-card spot, with the Braves trailing closely behind, also by just half a game. The stakes are high, and circumstances beyond the diamond threaten to add an extra layer of complexity to the series outcome.
The Braves captured a crucial victory in the series opener, pushing the Mets to the brink. For the Mets, clinching a postseason berth is within reach, requiring two wins out of the next three games. However, the Braves, while fiercely competitive, cannot secure their postseason spot solely through this series.
Adding to the intensity of the situation, Hurricane Helene was upgraded to a hurricane in the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. Wednesday update. Forecasts predict that Hurricane Helene will make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm on Thursday, bringing with it life-threatening storm surges, damaging winds, and flooding rains. The heavy rain is forecasted to reach Atlanta by 1 p.m. Wednesday and is expected to persist through Friday, raising concerns for both teams and the scheduled games.
With thunderstorms and tornadoes also in the mix for Atlanta from Wednesday to Friday, MLB officials are keeping a close watch on the storm's progression. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the league had not made any adjustments to the series schedule. Thursday's game remains slated for a 7:20 p.m. ET start, though MLB may opt to move the game to an earlier time slot—such as 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET—to circumvent the brunt of the storm. Alternatively, a doubleheader on Wednesday is under consideration, thanks to Monday's off-day, which could provide flexibility to the series schedule.
Historically, MLB has relocated entire series due to severe weather, demonstrated by the Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008, which was moved to Milwaukee's Miller Park because of Hurricane Ike, and the Rangers vs. Astros series in 2017, relocated to Tampa's Tropicana Field due to Hurricane Harvey. If the need arises, Globe Life Field in Arlington emerges as a potential alternate site for the Braves and Mets series, providing a feasible backup plan.
Should the game on Thursday be postponed to Monday, it would take place on the off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series. This adjustment would only be enacted if the game is critical in determining postseason qualification. Both teams might face the prospect of concluding the season having played a 161-game schedule instead of the customary 162 if no rescheduling occurs. Moving the game to a neutral site or rescheduling it post-regular season remains a complex last resort solution. The simplest and most efficient alternatives are to either move Thursday’s game up or to arrange a doubleheader on Wednesday.
The Braves have the advantage of not needing to travel immediately after this series, whereas the Mets could face complications with their schedule should there be any delays or changes. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted on Tuesday that he had not yet received any word from MLB regarding adjustments: "We’re just waiting to hear what the league decides. It’s a tricky situation, but we’ll be ready for whatever comes our way."
As the series intensifies on the field, nature’s fury looms large off it, and both teams—and the MLB—are tasked with balancing competitive integrity with the safety of everyone involved. The decisions made in the coming days will be closely monitored by fans and players alike, as both the weather and playoff aspirations hang in a delicate balance.