The start times for two of the three weekend games between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park have been adjusted due to the threat of inclement weather, according to MLB.com. Sunday’s originally scheduled contest will now be played on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET (12:05 p.m. CT) as the opening game of a split doubleheader. Meanwhile, Friday’s originally scheduled game has been moved up to 6:05 p.m. ET.
Red Sox and Cubs Shift Schedule for Friday Doubleheader Ahead of Nor’easter
The Boston Red Sox made these adjustments after consulting with Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs. The scheduling changes come in response to a forecast calling for a major nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, high winds, and potential flooding to the region over the weekend, as reported by MLB.com. Officials hope the new start times will provide the best opportunity to complete the final regular-season series as scheduled. Tickets for the originally scheduled games remain valid for admission at the newly designated times.
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy noted that discussions with the league regarding the weather outlook had been ongoing for days. They’re planning on a doubleheader Friday, which I suppose makes sense if it looks like the weather’s OK that day,
Tracy said, according to The Boston Globe. And then beyond that, I don’t know yet because I don’t think anybody knows specifically what anything with the forecast will look like.
Playoff Seeding and Wild Card Stakes
The weather disruption arrives as both clubs navigate the closing days of the regular season with postseason implications on the line. For the Chicago Cubs, the final series carries significant meaning in a tight National League Wild Card race. On the American League side, the Red Sox entered Wednesday holding the second Wild Card spot, trailing the Yankees by six games while maintaining a three-game lead over the third spot, making them all but locked into the No. 5 seed, according to MLB.com.
If the entire series cannot be played under the current plan, Major League Baseball, the Cubs, and the Red Sox have discussed alternative contingencies, including moving the remainder of the series to another city or making up missed games on Monday if postseason seeding depends on them. Playing on a Monday would eliminate the only scheduled off-day ahead of the Wild Card Series, an outcome teams prefer to avoid.
Roster Rules and Pitching Plans for Boston
Because the games fall in September, neither the Red Sox nor the Cubs will be permitted to call up an extra player specifically for the doubleheader. That rule applies only through August 31, though active rosters have already expanded from 26 to 28 players, as detailed by The Boston Globe.
With their playoff position largely secure, the Red Sox plan to utilize pitchers who will not factor significantly into their primary rotation plans for the first round of the postseason. Back-end starting pitchers Jake Bennett and Patrick Sandoval are lined up to take their regular turns, while long relievers Brayan Bello and Raymond Burgos are expected to be fully rested, and pitchers such as Jedixson Paez are available to be called upon for starting or relief duties.
