Incoming Nor’easter Could Scramble MLB’s Playoff Seeding Picture

A looming nor’easter, forecasted to hit New England over the final weekend of the 2026 MLB regular season, could create chaos for the playoff race. The Boston area, including the Red Sox, is set to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds. The Red Sox, already assured of their AL playoff berth and likely to secure the No. 5 seed, face uncertainty regarding their remaining home games against the Cubs from September 25-27.

The Red Sox would likely face the Yankees in a three-game Wild Card series should they advance. Conversely, the Cubs remain in a competitive position in the NL playoffs, currently holding the top Wild Card spot and No. 4 seed. They are scheduled to host a first-round series at Wrigley Field, but could finish anywhere from the 4th to the 6th seed, or possibly out of postseason contention.

If the weather disrupts their final games, MLB will use its established protocols, potentially moving game times or playing the affected matches on Monday if needed. This scenario echoes the 2024 situation where the Mets and Braves played a doubleheader to make up for rain delays, impacting the outcome of the postseason. While MLB has sought greater scheduling flexibility with intradivision games in September, the uneven team distribution across divisions complicates this. The league generally avoids moving games to neutral sites unless facing extreme conditions.