ATLANTA — It was unclear if The Mets were supposed to celebrate Monday. More clear was when such a celebration would occur.
Ahead of a playoff-clinching doubleheader at Truist Park, Major League Baseball told the Mets and Braves to postpone the champagne spraying until after the second game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Each club would clinch a post-season berth with a win in the opener before a second match was set for 40 minutes after the final of the first.
By delaying the celebration, Major League Baseball would ensure that the winner of the first game would not take the field for the second game after a wild and alcohol-fueled party.
Not allowing the festivities in the clubhouse must have been appreciated by the Diamondbacks, who are looking for a team to sweep the doubleheader — which was their lone path into October baseball.
If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, each would go into the playoffs and Arizona would be left out.