Cubs-Red Sox weekend series gets shuffled around with forecasted nor'easter approaching Massachusetts

The Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox are scheduled to face off in an important three-game series, with the outcome impacting playoff seeding for both teams. However, a nor'easter forecasted to hit Massachusetts on Sunday has forced Major League Baseball to shuffle the weekend's schedule. The series will now see a doubleheader on Friday and an afternoon game on Saturday, instead of the original plan of one game per day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Originally, the schedule was set to conclude with both teams playing their 162nd regular-season game on Sunday, with the timing set between 3:05 p.m. ET and 3:20 p.m. ET to create intrigue in any remaining seeding battles.

Forecasters predict that winds will intensify on Friday, but heavy rainfall is not expected until Saturday afternoon. This could pose challenges for MLB, as Sunday's weather forecast is the worst of the weekend. If either the Cubs or Red Sox cannot complete their series and the result could influence seeding, the league may need to find an alternative method to ensure the game takes place before the playoffs commence on Tuesday, September 29.

Conversely, if the series concludes by Saturday, the teams will receive an additional day off before the postseason begins. As of Wednesday's action, the Cubs are still in contention for a playoff spot, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres at 87-70. They lead the NL Wild Card race by four games over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox have already secured a Wild Card spot, positioning them either as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed for the Wild Card round, depending on the outcome of their series against Chicago. The Tampa Bay Rays have clinched the AL East title, and the New York Yankees have secured the No. 4 seed.