Mets vs. Braves Series Postponed for Weather amid Playoff Race; Doubleheader Monday

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IISeptember 25, 2024

David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A pair of New York Mets at Atlanta Braves games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been postponed due to projected rain and thunderstorms from the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets and Braves will now play a straight doubleheader back in Atlanta on Monday beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET.

The Mets arrived in Atlanta for a crucial three-game series with significant playoff implications.

Atlanta defeated New York 5-1 on Tuesday. Following that evening’s games, the 87-70 Mets owned the National League’s second Wild Card spot by just a half-game over the 87-71 Arizona Diamondbacks. The 86-71 Braves sit right outside the playoff picture.

Those three teams are fighting for the final two NL Wild Card spots after the San Diego Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 4-2 road win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

In the meantime, the Mets and Braves’ attentions turn toward their next series. The Mets will travel to Milwaukee to face the NL Central champion Brewers, while the Braves will stay home to host the Kansas City Royals, who are fighting for an AL Wild Card spot. As for Arizona, the Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants for one more game before welcoming the Padres into town for three.

New York undeniably gets the shortest end of the stick here, having to travel to Milwaukee for three and then back to Atlanta for two.

Both teams are also in a rough spot generally, though. Both National League Wild Card series begin on Tuesday, so the Mets and Braves (or perhaps both) will play two before traveling again for another game. Chances are that series will be on the road as well, making matters more difficult.

There is a possibility, though, that the Mets-Braves doubleheader could be completely moot.

If the Diamondbacks continue their freefall (they are losers of three straight) and the Mets and Braves find enough success in their own series versus Milwaukee and Kansas City, respectively, it’s possible Arizona will be out of the playoff picture regardless of what could happen in the Mets-Atlanta doubleheader.

The Braves notably own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mets (6-5) right now, but both Atlanta (5-2) and New York (4-3) have the head-to-head tiebreakers against Arizona.

But there also lies the possibility that the Mets and Braves will need to win their way into the playoffs, of course, if Arizona keeps pace with the teams. Ultimately, it’s a high-stress situation for the NL East foes (and especially their fans) as the regular season nears its close.