ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves’ scheduled game Friday night against the New York Mets was postponed by rain.
The teams will play a traditional doubleheader today, with the first game beginning at 4:10 p.m. The second game will start about 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
The announcement of the postponement, following a delay of 55 minutes, came shortly after fans were advised the National Weather Service had issued a severe storm warning for Atlanta and a tornado warning for North Georgia.
Friday night’s scheduled starters – Atlanta’s Derek Lowe and New York’s D.J. Carrasco – will start today’s first game. Atlanta’s Jair Jurrjens will make his season debut in the second game against New York’s Mike Pelfrey.
The storm is expected to pass through Atlanta this morning, leaving clear skies for the doubleheader.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez approved of the plan to make up the game as soon as possible instead of later in the season when the Mets return to Atlanta.
“Let’s play it,” Gonzalez said. “You don’t know what the weather is going to be like in June or September.”
The Mets were swept by Colorado in a doubleheader Thursday in New York after being rained out Tuesday.
Each team will wear No. 42 jerseys in the first game, as planned for Friday night, as part of baseball’s annual tribute to Jackie Robinson.
The Braves announced that fans holding tickets for Friday night’s game can exchange them for any other game this season, subject to availability, including today’s doubleheader.