A major storm heading toward New England this weekend is expected to force the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox into an early end to the regular season.
The upcoming three-game series, which starts Friday at Boston, is expected to have playoff seeding implications.
The Boston Globe reported Wednesday that MLB does not plan to move the series to an alternate location despite a storm that will include heavy rain and wind in a regional event commonly known as a nor’easter.
With the worst of the weather expected to begin Saturday night, multiple outlets have reported that a Friday doubleheader is being planned, with a single game on Saturday that would end the regular season for both clubs.
The Red Sox (84-73) were locked into either the second or third wild-card spot in the American League. They entered Wednesday’s play as the second wild card with a three-game lead on the Chicago White Sox in the third spot.
The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres all were tied for the top spot the National League wild-card standings at 87-70, with the Arizona Diamondbacks still holding a outside chance at a postseason spot, four games back.
The tight Friday-Saturday schedule would have its advantages for both teams. Both would get an extra day of rest for their pitching staffs heading into wild-card round opening games Tuesday as the remainder of the wild-card field finishes their regular-season schedule Sunday.