Braves and Mets Series Intensified by Impending Hurricane Helene
Tuesday night marked the beginning of a crucial three-game series between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, a series with substantial postseason implications for both teams. The Mets currently hold a half-game lead on a wild-card spot, while the Braves are nipping at their heels, trailing by the same margin. The Braves struck first, winning the opening game, putting even more pressure on the Mets.
The stakes are particularly high for the Mets, who can clinch a postseason berth by winning two of the next three games. On the other hand, the Braves are aware that even a sweep of the series won't guarantee their postseason spot, turning this matchup into a must-watch affair.
However, beyond the baseball diamond, another formidable opponent may impact the series: Hurricane Helene. Upgraded to a Category 3 storm, Helene is anticipated to make landfall in Florida on Thursday and is already casting a shadow over the series' scheduling. According to the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. Wednesday update, heavy rain is expected to hit Atlanta by 1 p.m. Wednesday and persist through Friday, bringing with it the risk of thunderstorms and tornadoes.
The league had not made any adjustments to the series schedule as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. "We haven't received any word from MLB," Mendoza said, reflecting the uncertainty looming over the series.
The current plan sees Thursday's game starting at 7:20 p.m. ET, but MLB is considering moving it to an earlier time slot, such as 1 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. ET, to avoid the worst of Hurricane Helene. There’s even the possibility of scheduling a doubleheader on Wednesday, taking advantage of Monday’s off-day.
Relocation of the series is also on the table. Historical precedents exist, such as the 2008 Astros vs. Cubs series, moved to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, and the 2017 Rangers vs. Astros series, relocated to Tampa's Tropicana Field because of Hurricane Harvey. This time, Globe Life Field in Arlington stands out as an alternate venue should relocation become necessary for the Braves and Mets.
Should a game be postponed 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 made if the game holds significant weight in determining postseason qualification. Otherwise, both teams might end up playing a 161-game season instead of the usual 162 games.
Moving the game to a neutral site or rescheduling it post-regular season remains a complex, last-resort option. The simplest and most efficient approaches seem to be either moving Thursday's game up to earlier in the day or scheduling a doubleheader on Wednesday.
The logistical challenges are particularly taxing for the Mets, who face a potentially disruptive travel schedule after this series. The Braves, however, benefit from not having to travel immediately afterward, providing them with slightly more flexibility to adapt to any schedule changes.
Meanwhile, MLB officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Helene’s path and potential impacts. The National Hurricane Center has already warned of "life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the southeastern United States."
As the weather situation continues to evolve, the teams and fans alike are left in a state of suspense, not just about who will emerge victorious in this critical series, but about when and where the remaining games will be played. With postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, the Braves and Mets must navigate both their on-field strategies and the looming threat posed by Hurricane Helene.