In a significant development with playoff implications looming, Major League Baseball announced the postponement of two crucial games between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets. The decision comes as Hurricane Helene approaches the Atlanta area, bringing forecasts of heavy rain and strong winds for Wednesday and Thursday.
The games were initially scheduled for these days, but with the impending inclement weather, MLB deemed it unsafe to proceed as planned. Instead, the games will be played as a doubleheader on Monday, an arrangement that presents its own set of challenges given its timing on the cusp of the 2024 MLB postseason. The league specified that the games will only go forward on Monday if they bear postseason implications.
Currently, the Mets hold an advantage with an 87-70 record, securing the National League's No. 5 seed. Meanwhile, the Braves are striving to stay in contention, trailing just a half-game behind Arizona for the final NL wild-card spot. The Mets are slated to play a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, while the Braves will face the Kansas City Royals at home.
Logistical Challenges
The rearrangement requires the Mets to travel back to Atlanta for the Monday doubleheader, an endeavor that is far from ideal given the tight timelines and travel demands. Observers argue that MLB could have potentially moved Thursday's game to the previous Monday (Sept. 23), an off-day for both teams. However, the league and teams did not choose that option.
"According to the New York Post, the Braves balked at moving any games this series because they were expecting large crowds at Truist Park," revealed an unnamed source. Truist Park saw an impressive attendance of 40,103 for Tuesday's series opener, which Atlanta won 5-1.
Attendance and Revenue Concerns
The Braves' reluctance to reschedule the games earlier might be driven by financial considerations. "Background conversations with involved personnel indicated that 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 reported.
While fans and players alike might have hoped for prompt intervention, MLB holds the ultimate authority on weather-related decisions. According to sources, "Ultimately, the blame for any weather issues during these important games Wednesday and Thursday falls on MLB. The league has the final say." Yet, the league chose not to overrule the initial weather-related decisions this time.
Considerations for Postseason Implications
The final decision deeply influences both teams' strategies as they navigate the remaining days of the regular season. For the Mets, maintaining momentum is crucial as they look to solidify their playoff position. For the Braves, every game could be a decisive factor in keeping their postseason dreams alive.
"The games will only be played if there are postseason implications, but that seems likely as things stand," an unnamed source stated, summarizing the high stakes for both teams.
Although the unforeseen weather has thrown a curveball into MLB's regular-season schedule, both teams and their fans must wait and see how these disruptions impact the final playoff picture. With the Braves seeking to edge their way into the wild-card spot and the Mets eager to shore up their seeding, the postponed games could still play a pivotal role in the lead-up to the postseason.
As it stands, fans will have to stay tuned for further updates from MLB, the Braves, and the Mets, each of whom declined to comment on the situation or offer insights on future steps. The turbulent weather brings uncertainty, but baseball’s unpredictable nature guarantees an exciting final stretch of the season.