ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves have new incentive to take care of business in the National League East as quickly as possible: The three-time reigning division champions don't want their playoff status to be determined by a makeup game against the Colorado Rockies, who have been tough to beat at Atlanta's Truist Park.
The finale of a three-game series between Colorado and Atlanta scheduled for Thursday afternoon was first delayed and then postponed due to a soggy field caused by rain. A makeup date was not immediately announced, but it's possible the game could be played Oct. 4, the day after the final scheduled game of the regular season.
The Rockies are 27 games back in the NL West, 68-78 overall and 23-51 away from home this season. But they beat the NL East-leading Braves 5-4 on Tuesday and 3-2 in 10 innings Wednesday night to improve to 10-2 at Truist Park since the stadium opened in 2017.
The Braves (76-68) entered Thursday 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies and 5 1/2 games ahead of the third-place New York Mets.
The start of the Colorado-Atlanta matchup, originally set for 12:20 p.m., was pushed back almost two hours in hopes the wet field would become playable. There was more rain Thursday morning after steady rain Wednesday night, when the Rockies overcame the wet conditions to win despite being outhit 10-5.
There was only occasional light rain during Thursday's delay before the game finally was postponed, but the damage to the field had been done. Braves manager Brian Snitker, who joined Rockies manager Bud Black and other officials in an on-field meeting to inspect playing conditions, said the field was not safe.
"The fact we played through a tropical storm last night kind of took away the field for today," Snitker said. "In my opinion, the field wasn't playable."
The teams are not scheduled to play again this season and don't have matching days off. Each team wanted to play the game as scheduled Thursday, if possible, though they also had to consider travel plans for Friday games. Atlanta is off for a three-game series in San Francisco - the NL West-leading Giants entered Thursday 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers - while Colorado was due to visit the Washington Nationals on Friday.
AP photo by John Bazemore / A member of the Atlanta Braves' grounds helps pull a tarp to cover the infield at Truist Park on Thursday afternoon. The Braves' game against the Colorado Rockies was delayed for more than two hours before being postponed, and no makeup date was announced.Rockies interim general manager Bill Schmidt and Braves chairman Terry McGuirk met with umpire CB Bucknor, Braves field director Ed Mangan, Snitker and Black on the field before the decision was made to postpone the game.
Snitker said the decision to postpone was "pretty unanimous."
"We just didn't want to take a chance," Snitker said, adding the infield was especially dangerous.
Black didn't speak with reporters after the decision was made.
Snitker acknowledged the field probably looked better to fans sitting in the stands than upon close inspection.
"I talked to the umpire early today," Snitker said, "and said I'm scared to death of putting guys on the field because that's when guys will get hurt."
Snitker said the possible Oct. 4 makeup date would be determined by Major League Baseball. The game likely would not be necessary if the Braves were already locked into a playoff spot. The Rockies are slated to close their season against the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Oct. 3, making for a potentially long flight for the one makeup game if it's needed.
As of now, Atlanta's schedule finishes with six straight home games via back-to-back series against the Phillies (Sept. 28-30) and the Mets (Oct. 1-3). First, though, the Braves face a road trip that Snitker said is their most difficult of the season.
"This probably trumps them all as far as looking at what we're getting ready to get into," Snitker said.
After three games against the Giants - who were 95-51 entering Thursday and earlier this week became the first team to clinch a postseason berth this year - the western swing continues with four games against the Diamondbacks and a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.
Before the start of the series in San Diego, the Padres will also host the completion of a game suspended by rain on July 21 at Truist Park with the Braves trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. Because it was part of a doubleheader, it is a seven-inning game, and although it will be completed in San Diego, Atlanta will still bat last.
The Braves have only one scheduled day off remaining in the regular season: Monday, Sept. 27, the day before the final homestand.
Ian Anderson (7-5, 3.61), who was scheduled to start on the mound for Atlanta on Thursday, will now get the ball for the opener against the Giants. San Francisco is expected to counter with Logan Webb (10-3, 2.80) in a matchup of right-handers.
In roster moves Thursday, Atlanta right-hander Chris Martin (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and right-hander Luke Jackson was placed on the paternity list. Martin was placed on the IL on Sept. 2 and threw a perfect inning for Triple-A Gwinnett in a rehab outing Tuesday.