• Loading stock data...
Monday, February 10, 2025

Hurricane Disrupts Wild Card Race, Forces Mets-Braves Doubleheader

  • The major storm prompts schedule changes, impacting MLB’s Wild Card race.
  • Mets-Braves twinbill set as storm disrupts playoff implications.
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Hurricane Helene is making a mess of the end of Major League Baseball’s regular season, and the league is facing no shortage of criticism from fans and pundits regarding how it’s handled the situation. But the speed and rapid intensification of the storm created a set of unique circumstances for the league—in turn, adding another layer of drama to the final days before the postseason.

The storm, projected to make landfall Thursday night in Florida’s Big Bend region as at least a Category 3 hurricane, is forecast to produce heavy rainfall and tropical-force winds throughout much of the Southeast over the next 24 to 36 hours. Because of that, MLB postponed the final two games of a Mets-Braves series at Truist Park late Wednesday.

The two teams, each battling for Wild Card position in the National League playoff chase, are now scheduled to play a straight doubleheader on Monday, otherwise an off day for MLB between Sunday’s end of the regular season and Tuesday’s postseason start. The Mets-Braves makeup games, however, will not be played if they are not needed to determine playoff eligibility.

But should the games be played, the Braves or Mets are facing a potential cross-country trip right after the doubleheader to face the Padres or Dodgers—and with a pitching staff depleted from the doubleheader. As a result, the competitive landscape of the postseason could be significantly altered.

Not Always Like This

MLB has had a long history of being proactive in responding to hurricanes toward the end of the regular season—when there are fewer available dates to reschedule games. For example, the approach of Hurricane Irma in 2017 prompted MLB to shift a Rays-Yankees series from Tropicana Field to Citi Field in New York. Just last year, Hurricane Hilary—a rare tropical storm to hit Southern California—similarly led the league to reschedule a Rays-Angels series in Anaheim.

MLB sources, however, tell Front Office Sports there were some key differences in the situation surrounding Hurricane Helene. The system was not a named tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center until Tuesday morning, and before then had been thought to be a far smaller storm not as likely to impact the Atlanta area significantly.

Though Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon, MLB and its weather advisors thought as recently as early Wednesday there still could be a window that evening to play—hopes that were dashed a few hours later.

Because of the swift acceleration of Hurricane Helene, there was essentially no window to consider shifting any of the games to a neutral site. Such a move not only requires approval of the teams and MLB Players Association—something that might have been difficult to obtain given the competitive implications—but also a minimum of 24 hours’ notice to prepare another ballpark operationally.

“I’ve never seen a hurricane intensify so quickly and in the way that Helene has here,” a league source tells FOS.

More problems are possible over the weekend as the Royals—also fighting for playoff position—are due to travel to Atlanta on Thursday after completing a series in Washington. Depending on the extent of the storm damage in Georgia, though, there may be schedule alterations to the Royals-Braves games.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Still Dropping As Lodging Costs Soar

Prices have fallen by another 20% since Monday amid a local lodging crunch.

ESPN Faces Potential Exit from MLB Media Rights As Opt-Out Looms

A 35-year rights relationship now faces a very different media landscape.

Seidler Approved As Padres Owner; Manfred on Dodgers Spending

Manfred also defends the Tampa market and the Dodgers’ offseason conduct.

Featured Today

Brady and Mahomes

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.
February 7, 2025

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.

New Orleans Native Lil Wayne Skipping Super Bowl After Kendrick Lamar Scuffle

His disappointment turned into an ad campaign, but he still isn’t attending.
February 9, 2025

LIV Golf Players Can Still Wear Shorts—If It’s Hot Enough

Pants will only be required in certain temperatures, FOS has learned.
February 9, 2025

Pricey Contracts, Stadium Talks Will Heat Up NFL Offseason

The 49ers and Vikings have big decisions to make about QBs who will be expensive.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
February 7, 2025

NWSL Commish: Our Teams Can Be ‘As Valuable As an NFL Team’

Jessica Berman called her clubs an “undervalued asset class.”
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Recording artist Kendrick Lamar poses for a photo during a press conference for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Media Center
February 7, 2025

Kendrick Lamar’s High-Risk, High-Reward Super Bowl Halftime Show

The performance is a boon for the league—but not without complications.
Maverick Carter
February 7, 2025

Singapore, Saudi PIF Among Investors in Int’l Basketball League

The league is advised by Maverick Carter, a longtime friend of LeBron James.
February 6, 2025

NFL Set to Announce Dublin 2025 Game Featuring Steelers

The NFL will likely play seven international games in 2025