Rest of Mets-Braves set ppd.; DH Monday may decide NL wild-card race
The games Wednesday and Thursday between the host Atlanta Braves and New York Mets were postponed by MLB due to Hurricane Helene approaching the southeastern United States, meaning the newly scheduled Monday doubleheader in Atlanta may determine all three National League wild-card spots.
Entering Wednesday, with the season series tied at 5-5, the Mets (87-70) held a one-game lead over the Braves (86-71) for the second NL wild card and a half-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71), who were set to host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.
Monday’s traditional doubleheader between the Mets and Braves is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. local time, with the second game slated to start 40 minutes after the opener ends.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said, according to MLB.com, “We’re just going to have to assess the situation in totality, as far as the playoff ramifications. We’re going to have to be really fluid with the whole thing.”
MLB’s four wild-card series are scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
The Mets open a three-game series with the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, while the Braves host the American League wild-card-contending Kansas City Royals in a three-game set starting on Friday.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, per MLB.com, “We’ve got to move on to the next series. We’re facing another really good team in Milwaukee, and we’ve got to go out there and not only win a series, but we’ve got to go out there and take care of business. That’s the only thing we can do is control the things we can control.”
The Diamondbacks host a three-game series with the San Diego Padres, who already clinched an NL wild-card spot, starting on Friday to conclude the regular season.
As the hurricane approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast, heavy rain is in the forecast for Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday. Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds over 110 mph.
