Weather forces MLB into dramatic Red Sox vs Cubs schedule change

Key Points:

• Major League Baseball rescheduled the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox series to include a doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday to avoid potential storm-related postponements, concluding the regular season a day early.
• The first game of the Friday doubleheader will start at 1:05 p.m. ET, followed by a nightcap at 6:05 p.m., with Saturday’s game still set for 7:15 p.m. ET pending weather conditions.
• Both teams preferred playing the doubleheader on Friday rather than a makeup game on Monday, which would have been just before the postseason begins.
• The series is critical for the Cubs, who are tied with the Padres and Phillies for the National League wild-card spots, while the Red Sox have nearly secured a playoff berth and the No. 5 seed in the American League.
• The Cubs hold tiebreaker advantages over the Padres and Phillies, which could determine seeding and home-field advantage in the upcoming wild-card series.