Atlanta Braves and New York Mets 2024 could be the start of the most important series of the MLB regular season on Tuesday night. The Mets are a half-game ahead in the wild-card spot, the Braves 1 1/2 games back. New York can clinch a postseason berth by winning two of three games. The Braves can't win this series, but this is their best (last?) chance to gain a significant lead.
There's a potential problem this week: Hurricane Helene. The storm, which was upgraded to a tropical storm on Tuesday, is expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday and make landfall in Florida on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center estimates the storm could become a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph. Some models predict an even more powerful storm.
Hurricane Helene's projected path could impact Georgia, and possibly even impact the Braves vs. Mets series this weekend. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has already declared a state of emergency. Here's the latest news from CBS News:
CBS News
The league moved the start time of Tuesday's Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game at Comerica Park from 6:40 p.m. ET to 1:10 p.m. ET to avoid a different storm system, and the game was completed safely after a brief rain delay.
MLB has not yet announced any adjustments to this week's Braves vs. Mets series in response to Hurricane Helene, though the forecast seems to indicate the series will be affected in some way. CBS Sports has learned that the league hopes to coordinate with both clubs as well as independent weather sources before making a call. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he had not received anything from the league as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Here are four options in the wake of the storm.
move thursday's game forward
The simplest and most straightforward solution. Currently scheduled to start at 7:20 pm ET, MLB could move Thursday's game to 1 pm ET or even 12 pm ET, and get it started before the storm hits. This would also give the Mets the best chance of traveling to Milwaukee for their next series without any weather-related problems. (The Braves don't have to travel after this series.)
play double header on wednesday
If playing nine innings isn't possible at any point on Thursday as forecast suggests, MLB could ask the Braves and Mets to play two games on Wednesday. Both teams would have to adjust their pitching plans, though a Monday off would make it a little less painful. And if they have to adjust their pitching plans, then so be it. Playing Thursday's game as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday might be the safest way to play all three games in Atlanta this week.
move the game to a neutral venue
When the weather forecast becomes worrisome enough, MLB moves games to a neutral site. Entire series have been moved in the past. Here are three examples:
- 14-15 September, 2008: Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros at Miller Park (Milwaukee). Moved due to Hurricane Ike.
- August 29-31, 2017: Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros at Tropicana Field (Tampa). Moved due to Hurricane Harvey.
- September 11-13, 2017: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field (New York). Moved due to Hurricane Irma.
The Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008 is notable for Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter, which was MLB's first neutral site no-hitter.
Playing Tuesday and Wednesday's games at Truist Park and Thursday's game at a neutral site isn't optimal — the entire series should be played in the same stadium under similar conditions — but if Hurricane Helen forces the league to move Thursday's game, it will have to be moved. The Rangers are on the road this week, so Globe Life Field in Arlington comes up as a possible alternate site, though that's just my speculation. The short flight from Atlanta and the retractable roof ensure there are no weather-related issues.
Postpone Thursday's game and start the game on Monday (if necessary)
This is the least desirable option. MLB could postpone Thursday's game, and if the weekend results say the game should decide the postseason race, it would be made up the following Monday, the off day between the end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series. If the game has no bearing on the race, it would not be made up, and it would be a 161-game season for the Braves and Mets. However, looking at the standings, it seems likely the game would matter for one or both teams.
Storm projections are so worrisome that Thursday's Braves vs. Mets game is likely to be affected in some way. The easiest solution would be to start it earlier in the day on Thursday, followed by a doubleheader on Wednesday. Things get messy once you get to neutral sites and postpone games until after the regular season, but sometimes that's the only solution.