The Red Sox and Cubs are playing their season finale in Florida, not Boston, after a looming nor’easter packed with heavy rain and wind forced MLB to relocate Game 162. The final game of their series, originally set for Fenway Park, is now happening all the way down at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. This isn’t just a weather delay; this is a full-blown, cross-country scramble for the end of the regular season!
The Chaotic Shift South
This whole situation is pure chaos. MLB confirmed Game 162, originally slated for Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. ET, is now going down on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. Saturday’s a wash, a no-play day for both clubs. Imagine packing up mid-series, after playing two games, and hopping on a plane for Florida. That’s exactly what these teams are doing. Following Friday’s doubleheader in Boston, both clubs were told to hit the road for St. Pete. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy put it best, talking about how MLB was on the fence, watching “the giant cell out in the Atlantic that’s coming at us.” He wondered if it would “go below us, or is there an avenue that we could play here?” Nope. That “giant cell” won the argument.
Wild Card Scramble Just Got Wilder
What makes this even crazier? This is the first time since 2017, outside the wild pandemic years, that a Major League Baseball game or series has been relocated like this. Back then, it was the Yankees and Rays moving due to Hurricane Irma. Tropicana Field was wide open, thankfully, with the Rays battling the Phillies on the road. For these two clubs, the stakes couldn’t be higher! Both the Red Sox and Cubs are locked into the postseason as wild card entrants. The Red Sox, after their 4-3 win over the Cubs in Friday’s doubleheader’s first game, officially snagged the fifth seed in the AL playoff bracket. That means they’re headed to face the rival Yankees in the best-of-three Wild Card Series. For the Cubs, they’re still fighting for position, needing two more wins or one more win plus a Phillies loss to lock down at least the fifth seed on the NL side. Every single pitch matters here!
So, forget Fenway’s charm for the finale. It’s Tropicana Field or bust! These teams are buzzing, not just from the travel but from the adrenaline of the playoffs practically starting now. Watch how this final game shakes out Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. It’s not just another game; it’s the last dash for seeding before the real October madness begins. Who’s gonna show up big when it counts? You definitely don’t wanna miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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