Weather reshapes MLB playoff push
Nor’easter Prompts MLB to Rearrange Cubs and Red Sox Schedule at Fenway Park
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Key Points
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Cubs president Jed Hoyer said playing on Monday would be “obviously not a positive for anyone,” underscoring the teams’ reluctance to extend the regular season into the day before the playoffs.
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The Red Sox were viewed as having a 98% chance of remaining the American League’s No. 5 seed as of Wednesday morning, which would likely set up a best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks remained in contention for the National League’s final wild-card position, sitting four games behind the Cubs, Phillies and Padres with an 83-74 record.
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Boston manager Chad Tracy said weather discussions were already underway among the front offices and MLB, adding that forecasts could still change: “the weather doesn’t look good… it could also miss and not be bad.”
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Because Boston has already clinched a playoff berth, the Red Sox were expected to rest several regulars and protect their most valuable pitchers during the final series, while Alex Bregman’s return to Fenway Park was identified as one of the few notable Boston storylines.
A powerful nor'easter bearing down on Boston has forced Major League Baseball to scramble the Chicago Cubs' final regular-season series at Fenway Park. MLB announced Wednesday that the teams will play a split doubleheader Friday, with Sunday's game moved to Friday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET and the original Friday game shifted to 6:05 p.m. ET. MLB is racing to complete all games before Tuesday's playoff start, though a Monday makeup remains possible if the storms prove worse than expected.
The schedule scramble carries high stakes for Chicago, which sits tied with Philadelphia and San Diego for National League wild-card positioning. The Cubs hold crucial tiebreakers over both rivals. Meanwhile, Boston has locked in its playoff berth with a 98% chance of claiming the AL's No. 5 seed, though the Red Sox still plan to complete the series rather than rest completely.
Why Monday Is Off the Table
Cubs president Jed Hoyer made clear that playing on Monday—just one day before the Wild Card Series begins—would be unacceptable. He called a Monday makeup "obviously not a positive for anyone." The postseason starts Tuesday, leaving no buffer for travel, roster decisions, or pitcher rest. MLB and both teams are bent on avoiding this scenario entirely.
Cubs Face a Three-Way Tiebreaker Battle
Chicago enters Fenway with immense pressure. The Cubs hold an 87-70 record, locked in a dead heat with Philadelphia and San Diego, both also 87-70. Here's the key: Chicago holds tiebreaker advantages over both rivals, which means home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series could hinge on completing these games. The Arizona Diamondbacks sit four games back at 83-74, still mathematically alive but unlikely to catch up.
Boston's Balancing Act: Rest vs. Results
The Red Sox face a different calculation. Boston's 84-73 record gives it a 98% statistical lock on the AL's No. 5 seed, setting up a best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Manager Chad Tracy acknowledged the weather threat but noted forecasts can shift. "The weather doesn't look good," he said, "but it could also miss and not be bad." Because Boston's playoff spot is essentially secure, the Red Sox are expected to rest key regulars and protect their most valuable pitchers through the weekend.
The Split Doubleheader Gamble
Playing both games on Friday creates a compressed challenge for both bullpens. A split doubleheader forces managers to burn relief pitchers in back-to-back games, potentially leaving both teams thin for the Wild Card Series. MLB will monitor Boston weather radar through Saturday evening. If Saturday's game is also rained out and playoff seeding remains unsettled, the league faces an emergency choice: a Monday makeup or a neutral-site finish. Either option is costly, but Tuesday's playoff start leaves MLB with no other choices.
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