Major League Baseball has announced the postponement of two pivotal games between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets due to the looming threat of Hurricane Helene approaching the Atlanta area. The postponed matchups, originally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, have been rescheduled as a doubleheader on Monday, but only if postseason implications demand it.
The Mets, holding an 87-70 record and securely in possession of the National League's No. 5 seed, seem poised for the playoffs. The Braves, meanwhile, are fiercely contending for a wild-card spot, trailing just a half-game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Despite the rescheduling, some controversy has arisen over the decision-making process. According to sources cited by the New York Post, the Braves were hesitant to move any games from this series, given high ticket sales and expected large crowds at Truist Park. These insider conversations revealed that Atlanta was reluctant to forgo the revenue from the gates and to handle the logistical difficulties of rescheduling personnel, including security and concession workers.
"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," noted an insider familiar with the situation.
Ultimately, the final decision rested with MLB. "The blame for any weather issues during these important games Wednesday and Thursday falls on MLB. The league has the final say," sources pointed out.
The Mets are slated to continue their season with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend. Meanwhile, the Braves are scheduled to face the Kansas City Royals at home. This rearrangement necessitates that the Mets will have to travel back to Atlanta for the Monday doubleheader if those games indeed carry postseason significance.
Truist Park witnessed an impressive turnout of 40,103 fans for Tuesday's series opener, a game which the Braves clinched with a decisive 5-1 victory. This attendance figures underscore the Braves' enthusiasm for maintaining their home-field advantage and maximizing fan engagement, even amid the looming threat posed by the hurricane.
"The games will only be played if there are postseason implications, but that seems likely as things stand," an unnamed source commented, reflecting the prevailing sentiment and anticipation towards the playoff picture.
As the hurricane approaches, both teams must navigate not only the immediate weather challenges but also keep their eyes on the prize—the postseason. Fans remain on tenterhooks, eager to see how the schedules will unfold and how their teams will fare in this pivotal moment of the season.