Boston and the Northeastern states are set to be slammed by a huge storm this weekend and MLB has taken multiple precautions to do its best to ensure that the Red Sox will be able to play the entirety of their final series of the regular season against the Chicago Cubs.
First, the finale on Sunday has been moved to the early afternoon on Friday as part of a doubleheader. They've also left the option open to move (what is now) game three on Saturday up to the afternoon, though it's still currently scheduled for 7:15pm EST. There are also rumors that the Cubs and Sox could be headed to Tropicana Field to play their Saturday game in a neutral location.
Although both the Cubs and Red Sox have clinched playoff spots already — the former having done so mere hours before heading on their flight for Boston — Chicago is still in a rock fight for seeding position in the NL Wild Card race. These games matter to the Cubs, which is why the league preemptively moved Sunday's game up a few days.
The move gave the Red Sox a brief advantage that they no longer have: Boston's doubleheader would give it two days of rest before the postseason while its likely Wild Card opponent, the New York Yankees, would only have one. Now, New York gets to play a doubleheader on Friday, too.
Red Sox and Yankees will both get two days of rest before Wild Card series starts
If the Red Sox have to fly to Tampa , they'll actually be at a disadvantage compared to the Yankees. Boston will have to play a doubleheader, get on a flight, play again in Florida, and fly back to New York before the Wild Card game.
The last-second schedule shuffling could come back to harm the Red Sox — the extra day off could put the team's pitching plans in a state of disarray — but it's not enough time off to introduce any rust to the equation. And with the pitching staff having logged so much mileage this season, it's unlikely you'll hear anyone complaining about an additional day off.
At least the Yankees are dealing with their own headaches right now. No one seems to know if Aaron Judge will be playing in the Wild Card Round (including the man himself), and they're still in the process of lining up their playoff rotation.
The terrible weather on the way has the chance to give the Red Sox a leg up or disadvantage them before the Wild Card. It all depends on the league's decision.
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