Mets playoff plans: Hurricane Joaquin could shake things up

In just over a week, the Mets will play their first game of the 2015 postseason against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starting Friday, the Mets will play their final three games of the regular season, during which they'll find out if they'll start the NLDS at home or on the road.

However, over the next few days, bad weather could throw a wrench into the Mets' plans. A storm system has already pushed Thursday's game from an evening start to noon, and it could threaten New York this entire weekend. It's unlikely that MLB will cancel any of the last three games, with the Mets and Dodgers separated by a game, and it's also unlikely that the Mets would want to play in a neutral venue. There's also a tropical storm that could hit New York next week.

Bad weather, though, could force Terry Collins to choose between sitting his stars or putting them on the field in less-than-stellar weather. The Mets have already endured one post-clinching health scare after Yoenis Cespedes was hit on the hand Wednesday evening, and the last thing they'd want would be a weather-related injury—be it a Michael Conforto sprained groin or a wet pitch that injures Lucas Duda.

Keeping much of the postseason roster on the bench could hurt the Mets' home-field chances; and, with four days off between the end of the regular season and the start of the Division Series, there's going to be a lack of live pitching in game situations. Any more days off would risk having Mets sluggers trying to shake off rust next Friday and Saturday while battling Zack Greinke and and Clayton Kershaw.

To make for a larger headache, Hurricane Joaquin—with winds of 125 mph—is churning off the coast of Florida. Recent forecasts warn that the storm could hit the New York area on Tuesday, further complicating postseason preparations.

Terry Collins hasn't said what his plans are yet.