Major League Baseball, fearing that a storm could postpone at least one or two games of the three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, are discussing the possibility of having the two teams play a doubleheader Friday at Fenway Park and a single game on Saturday – concluding the regular season a day early – an MLB official told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because no decision has been finalized.
The two teams have each told MLB that they would prefer playing a doubleheader Friday instead of a potential makeup game on Monday, just one day ahead of the postseason, with the Red Sox already clinching a berth and the Cubs’ magic number at one entering Wednesday.
The series is much more important
to the Cubs and the NL wild-card race than the Red Sox, who have all but mathematically clinched the No. 5 seed in the AL with a wild-card matchup against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
The Cubs, however, are in a three-way tie with the Padres and Phillies for the National League three wild-card spots with 87-70 records. The team that finishes with the best record among the three would be the No. 4 seed, and host the best-of-three wild-card series beginning Tuesday. The No. 5 seed would face the No. 4 seed on the road while the No. 6 seed would play Atlanta at Truist Park.
The Cubs have the tiebreaker advantage against the Phillies and Padres if they finish in a tie.
In 2024, weather forced MLB into scheduling a doubleheader between the New York Mets and Atlanta a day after the regular season ended, with both teams ultimately clinching playoff spots in the twinbill.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will weather force MLB into dramatic Red Sox vs Cubs schedule change?
