In the midst of a thrilling postseason chase, the National League is embroiled in a scheduling quagmire. The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, vying for the final two Wild Card spots, were originally slated to face off in a crucial two-game series. However, Hurricane Helene’s impending arrival has thrown a wrench into the plans, forcing the games to be rescheduled for a potential Monday doubleheader.
This development has created a logistical nightmare, with both teams facing a grueling stretch of games. The Mets will now head to Milwaukee for a weekend series, only to potentially return to Atlanta for the makeup games on Monday. Should they advance to the postseason, they may then have to travel to the West Coast or back to Milwaukee, all within a span of mere days.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, also in the mix for a Wild Card berth, hold the key to avoiding this chaotic scenario. If they falter over the weekend, the Braves and Mets may be spared the necessity of playing the doubleheader, which would only serve to determine seeding.
In a bizarre twist, the Braves’ decision to delay the games may ultimately work against them. By not playing the series as originally scheduled, they will miss the opportunity to face the Mets with their ace pitchers, Chris Sale and Max Fried, on the mound. Moreover, if they do secure a postseason spot, they will be forced to play five games in four days, followed by an overnight trip to begin the Wild Card Series.
As the situation continues to unfold, fans can only hope that the Diamondbacks stumble, sparing everyone involved from this avoidable scheduling debacle. The usually well-oiled machine of Major League Baseball has hit a speed bump, leaving everyone to wonder how this mess could have been averted.
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