The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets start a crucial series on Tuesday night. The Mets are half a game ahead in the wild-card race, while the Braves trail by 1.5 games. Winning two out of three would secure New York’s postseason spot, but this is Atlanta’s big chance to catch up.
There’s a potential hiccup: Hurricane Helene. Upgraded to a tropical storm on Tuesday, it’s expected to hit Florida as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph by Thursday and could impact Georgia later in the week.
MLB has already moved the Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game at Comerica Park from 6:40 p.m. ET to 1:10 p.m. ET due to another storm system, aiming for safer playtime given its importance in the standings.
Move Thursday’s Game Up:
One solution is moving Thursday’s game from its current 7:20 p.m. ET slot to earlier in the day, like 1 p.m. or even noon , allowing it to finish before the storm hits and giving the Mets time to travel safely for their next series.
Play a Doubleheader Wednesday:
Another option is playing two games on Wednesday if Thursday looks too risky weather-wise. Both teams would need to adjust their pitching plans, but Monday’s off-day helps make this feasible.
Fans might think these changes are necessary but inconvenient.
Move the Game to a Neutral Site:
If needed, MLB can move games due to severe weather concerns as done before:
– Sept. 14-15, 2008: Cubs vs Astros at Miller Park.
– Aug. 29-31, 2017: Rangers vs Astros at Tropicana Field.
– Sept. 11-13, 2017: Yankees vs Rays at Citi Field.
While not ideal, relocating Thursday’s game could happen if Helene forces it; Globe Life Field in Arlington could be an option due to its retractable roof and short flight from Atlanta.
Postpone Thursday’s Game and Make It Up Monday (if necessary):
This is less desirable but possible—postponing until Monday if needed for postseason decisions or skipping it if irrelevant by then.
The storm’s path suggests some impact on Thursday’s game is likely—moving it earlier or doubling up Wednesday seems best before considering neutral sites or postponements.
What do you think about these options?
