Red Sox move Cubs doubleheader Game 2 earlier to beat nor'easter

The Boston Red Sox have moved the start time for Game 2 of their doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs from 6:05 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. ET on Friday at Fenway Park, citing concerns about an impending nor'easter expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to the Boston area. This marks the second schedule adjustment in two days; Game 1 was originally scheduled for Sunday but moved to Friday at 1:05 p.m. The third and final game of the series remains tentatively scheduled for Saturday at 7:15 p.m., though Major League Baseball and both teams have discussed moving it to a different city if weather makes it impossible to play in Boston.

The schedule changes have drawn criticism from Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who expressed frustration over the compressed timeline's impact on the Chicago pitching rotation. With the league moving games up within a five-day window of the starting rotation, the Cubs' Saturday starter will likely be forced to pitch on Friday, forcing a decision about who pitches Saturday's finale. Counsell noted the Cubs are at a disadvantage compared to normal rainout procedures, which typically provide an extra day of rest. He indicated that left-hander Shota Imanaga may pitch on short rest if Saturday's game is played as scheduled.

Both teams have already clinched postseason berths, but the final series carries significance for playoff seeding. The Red Sox have locked in the No. 5 seed in the American League Wild Card and are set to open their best-of-three series against the Yankees on Tuesday in New York. For the Cubs, the seeding remains in flux; they entered Wednesday in a three-way tie with the Padres and Phillies for the three National League wild-card spots. The winner of the top wild card will host the first round.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said before Wednesday's game against the Guardians that the league had been discussing contingencies for days. "They're planning on a doubleheader Friday, which I suppose makes sense if it looks like the weather's OK that day," he said. Both managers expressed concern about playing games on Monday, the day between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, if makeup games become necessary. Tracy indicated the Red Sox will deploy back-end starting pitchers Jake Bennett and Patrick Sandoval, as well as long relievers Brayan Bello and Raymond Burgos, to preserve key arms for the postseason.

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, playing against his former team this weekend, is working his way back from a foul-ball injury sustained Sunday. He was hit in the left cheek while on-deck, resulting in swelling and facial numbness. Counsell said Bregman will likely return as a designated hitter but needs to run the bases before being fully cleared to play. Bregman expressed confidence he will be ready for the postseason.