The Boston Red Sox are scheduled to face the Chicago Cubs in the final series of the year, but the start times have been altered.
Due to potential storms in Boston, the Red Sox have announced that they will play a split doubleheader on Friday and a night game on Saturday. The first game of Friday's doubleheader will start at 1:05 p.m. The second game is scheduled to start at 6:05 p.m.
The games may not matter as much for the Red Sox, as it would be very hard for them to move out of the No. 5 seed in the American League. However, the Cubs are in a tight Wild Card race in the National League and the final three games could very well decide if they play a home postseason series or not.
The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are all playing for seeding in the final week, with the Diamondbacks on the outside looking in, with a series against the Padres coming up. Each game against the Red Sox will be important for the Cubs, but the Red Sox's focus may be on lining up their pitching and giving some everyday players some extra rest.
Regardless, a doubleheader will tax the bullpen, and the Red Sox will be looking for some length if they plan on limiting innings for their starters. However, the plus side of this schedule change is that the Red Sox will finish the season a day before the New York Yankees, whom they will most likely be facing in the Wild Card Series. The Red Sox will have an extra day off before Game 1 of that series.
