Braves and Mets Await MLB's Call Amid Hurricane Helene Concerns
As Hurricane Helene casts a shadow over the southeastern United States, the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are left in suspense, waiting to see if their pivotal three-game series at Truist Park can be completed. Wednesday and Thursday’s games are at risk due to threats of heavy rain and strong winds from the looming storm.
Despite the growing weather concerns, Major League Baseball (MLB) has yet to announce any changes to the schedule. Historically, the league has sometimes opted to move games to neutral sites under similar circumstances, but no such decision has been made this time around.
Among the options considered were rescheduling Thursday's game to Monday, an off-day for both teams, or even organizing a doubleheader. However, those possibilities have since become infeasible. As it stands, any potential game cancellations could significantly impact both teams and the league’s competitive balance as the regular season winds down.
On Tuesday, a sizable crowd of 40,103 fans filled Truist Park for the series opener, which saw the Braves secure a 5-1 victory over the Mets. Given the stakes in the standings, neither team nor the league is eager to disrupt the series schedule.
“Basically, the Braves were expecting large attendance for the three games (it was 40,103 at Truist Park for Tuesday's series opener, won 5-1 by Atlanta) and did not want to forego the gates nor work through the logistics of moving personnel such as security, concessionaires, etc. to other dates or start times,” according to sources.
The Braves, trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by a mere half-game for the third wild-card slot, have a lot riding on this series. Equally pressured, the Mets currently hold a half-game lead over Arizona and a one-game advantage over Atlanta. Every game counts as both teams battle for playoff positions.
In the absence of rescheduled games or straightforward solutions, the possibility of a doubleheader next Monday, the designated off-day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series, remains on the table. This scenario could see the Mets traveling from Atlanta to Milwaukee and then back to Atlanta, potentially within a span of just one week, depending on the outcomes and decisions made.
Adding complexity to an already complicated week, the Braves are also set to host the Kansas City Royals this weekend. The logistics, fan expectations, and competitive pressures create a multifaceted challenge for both organizations.
Spokespeople for MLB, the Braves and the Mets have offered no comment on the situation so far. The uncertainty around the games only adds to the tension as players, coaches, and fans wait for a definitive plan.
While the teams and fans hold their collective breath, the immediate future of this crucial series hangs in the balance. Should the games proceed as scheduled, the Braves and Mets will have the opportunity to directly influence their playoff destinies on the field. If cancellations are necessary, the repercussions could reverberate throughout the league, altering the postseason landscape in unforeseen ways.