Major League Baseball made a significant decision to postpone two upcoming games between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets due to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Helene. The games, initially scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, will now potentially be played as a doubleheader on Monday, contingent upon their impact on postseason standings.
The Mets come into this stretch holding an 87-70 record, which firmly secures them the National League's No. 5 seed. On the other hand, the Braves are chasing another playoff berth, trailing just a half-game behind Arizona for the league's final wild-card spot. This makes the rescheduled games even more crucial, especially if playoff implications are still at play.
Travel Challenges Ahead
The postponement introduces added complexities to the Mets' schedule. They are set to play a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend. If the Braves games bear postseason weight, the Mets will be required to make an additional trip back to Atlanta for the Monday doubleheader, a logistical challenge that could affect player conditioning and overall team strategy.
Meanwhile, the Braves are scheduled to play the Kansas City Royals at home this weekend, adding another layer of complexity to the logistics and planning for the Truist Park staff.
Decision Dynamics
According to the New York Post, there was some reluctance from the Braves' camp regarding the postponement of the games. "The Braves balked at moving any games this series because they were expecting large crowds at Truist Park," an unnamed source revealed. The sentiment was echoed during background conversations with personnel involved in the decision-making process. "Basically, the Braves were expecting large attendance for the three games 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," another insider shared.
The impact of these revenue considerations is not lost in professional sports. With an attendance of 40,103 for Tuesday's series opener, which saw the Braves claiming a 5-1 victory, the team had strong incentives to host the games as originally scheduled.
However, the final call rested with MLB, as multiple sources confirmed. "Ultimately, the blame for any weather issues during these important games Wednesday and Thursday falls on MLB. The league has the final say," it was emphasized.
Potential Postseason Impact
As it stands, the decision to play the games on Monday hinges on whether they bear postseason implications. "The games will only be played if there are postseason implications, but that seems likely as things stand," an unnamed source pointed out. Given the tight race for the NL wild-card spots, it's a scenario that appears increasingly probable.
While the postponement is an inconvenience, it underscores the broader protective measures athletes and officials must sometimes take in the face of natural elements. It's yet another chapter in the unpredictable nature of the sport where even the fiercest competition must sometimes bow to the whims of Mother Nature.