Astros-Rangers series moved to St. Petersburg

The series between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers has been moved from Houston to St. Petersburg, Fla., due to Hurricane Harvey. The three-game series begins today.

HOUSTON » The Houston Astros will play their series against the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, thisweek, the biggest change yet forced by Hurricane Harvey and widespread flooding that spread more misery across Texas on Monday.

Both the Astros and Rangers flew to Dallas after games in California on Sunday to await news of where the series would be held. After an off day Monday, they will now head to St. Petersburg, where the Astros will have “home” games far away from home, just like they did in the wake ofHurricane Ike in 2008 when they played two scheduled home games inMilwaukee. The three-game set begins Tuesday.

The team also said a three-game series against the New YorkMets that begins on Friday may also be played at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the decision has already been made and shared with the players, though there was no word from the team or Major League Baseball. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move was not disclosed.

If the Astros play both series in Florida, they will end up playing 19 straight games away from Houston, where the AL Central leaders last played on Aug. 24. A 10-game road trip begins after the Mets series.

“The safety of our fans, players and staff remain our main priority,” Astros President Reid Ryan said. “We are extremely grateful to the Tampa Bay Rays organization for allowing us to use their facility.”

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the team was open to hosting the series in Arlington this week, but had no interest in swapping a series against the Astros later in the season to accommodate the change. He said the Rangers declined partially because of thoughts for the fans, but also because that change would have left the Rangers with a 12-game road trip late in the season.

“Just the competitive challenge of having our guys’ last road trip of the year, (a) four-city trip was not something that we wanted to do,” he said. “We were prepared, we offered to host the series, but the decision was made to go to Tampa instead.”

As the flooding dominated the news for another day, athletes with ties to Houston kept nervous watch, worrying about loved ones.

Consumed by feelings of helplessness and frustration, LSU starting right tackle Toby Weathersby said he filled his truck with gas with the intent of venturing into Houston to try to evacuate his grandparents. He held off — but it was hard.

“I was going to be stupid, but I had to come to the realization that I’ve got to leave it up to the professionals,” Weathersby said. “I just sat down and just thought about the situation I was going to be putting myself in. I wasn’t worried about school or nothing. I was just worried about trying to get there, get my people.”

Weathersby, a junior, said he’d been in contact with his grandparents on Sunday and their home had not flooded, though rising water had engulfed their vehicles.

“They’re stuck right now in the flood. Water is almost in the house,” said Weathersby, a 6-foot-6, 308-pound junior. “You try to stay positive but ... It’s one of those situations right now where you’ve got to keep praying. Hopefullymy prayers reach over to my grandparents so they can hearme right now trying to tell them to try to get out.”

The flooding has forced other teams to relocate, too.

The Texans are also in the Dallas area, awaiting word on where their home preseason game against the Cowboys will be played as scheduled on Thursday night. Weathersby and his LSU teammates, along with those at BYU, are keeping close watch, with the two teams scheduled to play each other Saturday at the home of the Texans.