The MLB season was supposed to have ended on Sunday. But because of the approach of Hurricane Helene in Georgia last week, the campaign has been extended by a day. It now is set to finish with a doubleheader on Monday that will impact the playoff hopes of three teams.
The New York Mets were supposed to play the Braves in Atlanta last Wednesday and Thursday, but because of the hurricane, those game were rescheduled for Monday afternoon — when the forecast calls for cloudy but dry conditions. Those two clubs, as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks, are tightly grouped as they vie for the National League’s final two wild-card playoff slots.
The Braves and the Mets are 88-72 with the two games to go, while the Diamondbacks finished Sunday at 89-73. If either team playing Monday sweeps the twinbill, that club as well as the Diamondbacks make the playoffs. But if the doubleheader is split, Atlanta and New York qualify and Arizona does not. They'd all be 89-73, and the Braves and Mets win tiebreakers over the Diamondbacks.
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ESPN2 is televising Monday’s doubleheader, which is to begin at 12:10 p.m. (St. Louis time). ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball†broadcast team is on the calls — Karl Ravech (play-by-play), David Cone and Eduardo Perez (analysis) as well as Buster Olney (reporter).