How Hurricane Helene could impact Braves vs. Mets: What to know as potential storm heads toward Atlanta

The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets begin what might be the most important series of the 2024 MLB regular season on Tuesday night. The Mets are a half-game up on a wild-card spot, the Braves are 1 1/2 games back. New York can clinch a postseason berth with two wins out of three games. The Braves cannot clinch this series, but this is their best (last?) chance to gain significant ground.

There is one potential problem this week: Hurricane Helene. The storm, which was upgraded to a tropical storm Tueday, is expected to become a hurricane Wednesday and make landfall in Florida on Thursday. National Hurricane Center projections call for the storm to become Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph winds. Some models forecast an even stronger storm.

The projected path of Hurricane Helene has it impacting Georgia, and potentially the Braves vs. Mets series, later in the week.  Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has already declared a state of emergency. Here’s the latest from CBS News:

The league already moved Tuesday’s Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game at Comerica Park up from 6:40 p.m. ET to 1:10 p.m. ET to avoid a separate storm system and the game was able to be completed safely after a short 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 makes it likely the series will be impacted in some way. The league is expected to coordinate with both clubs as well as independent weather sources before making a call, CBS Sports has learned. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he had not yet heard anything from the league as of about 5 p.m. Tuesday. Here are the four options with the storm looming.

Move Thursday’s game up

The easiest and most straightforward solution. Currently a 7:20 p.m. ET start, MLB could move Thursday’s game up to 1 p.m. ET or even 12 p.m. ET, and get it in before the storm arrives. That would also give the Mets the best chance to travel to Milwaukee for their next series without any weather issues. (The Braves don’t have to travel after this series.)

Play a doubleheader Wednesday

If the forecast suggests playing nine innings at any time Thursday may not be possible, MLB could have the Braves and Mets play two games on Wednesday. Both teams would have to adjust their pitching plans, though Monday’s off-day would make it a bit less painful. And if they have to adjust their pitching plans, so be it. Playing Thursday’s game as part of a doubleheader Wednesday may be the safest way to play all three games in Atlanta this week.

Move the game to a neutral site

When the weather forecast presents enough of a concern, MLB will move games to a neutral site. Entire series have been relocated in the past. Here are three examples:

• Sept. 14-15, 2008: Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros in Miller Park (Milwaukee). Moved due to Hurricane Ike.
• Aug. 29-31, 2017: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros in Tropicana Field (Tampa). Moved due to Hurricane Harvey.
• Sept. 11-13, 2017: New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays in Citi Field (New York). Moved due to Hurricane Irma.

The Astros vs. Cubs series in 2008 is notable for Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter, MLB’s first neutral site no-hitter.

Playing Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s game at Truist Park and Thursday’s game at a neutral site is not optimal — the entire series should be played in the same stadium with the same conditions — but if Hurricane Helene forces the league to relocate Thursday’s game, then it has to be relocated. The Rangers are on the road this week, so Globe Life Field in Arlington stands out as a possible alternate site, though that is just my speculation. A short-ish flight from Atlanta and the retractable roof ensures no weather issues.

Postpone Thursday’s game and make it up Monday (if necessary)

This is the least desirable option. MLB could simply postpone Thursday’s game, and if the weekend’s outcomes say the game must be to decide the postseason race, then it would be made up next Monday, on 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, then it won’t be made up, and it’ll be a 161-game season for the Braves and Mets. Given the standings though, it seems likely the game will matter to one or both teams.

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The storm projections are concerning enough that Thursday’s Braves vs. Mets game is likely to impacted in some way. Moving it up to earlier in the day Thursday would be the easiest solution, followed by a doubleheader Wednesday. Once you get into neutral sites and postponing the game until after the regular season, then things get messy, but sometimes it’s the only solution.