Major League Baseball is trying to stay ahead of Mother Nature for the final weekend of the season.
The schedule for key series in Boston between the Red Sox and Chicago Cubs is being rejigged because of heavy rain forecasted for Saturday and Sunday.
The teams are now set to play a doubleheader Friday, with Sunday's game scratched from the books, the Red Sox announced Wednesday.
"The change was made in consultation with Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs due to the forecast of a major nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, high winds, and potential flooding to the region during the weekend," the Red Sox said in a statement.
While the host Red Sox are all but certain to finish in the American League's second wild-card spot and face the New York Yankees, the Cubs have much more at stake.
The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres entered Wednesday's play tied atop the National League wild-card race. The top wild-card team gets to host a series, while the other two go on the road.
There are examples of MLB moving series to neutral sites because of weather.
Per MLB.com, a September 2017 series between the host Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees was moved to the New York Mets' Citi Field ahead of Hurricane Irma.
There is an off-day Monday ahead of the start of the wild-card series Tuesday, but all clubs would far prefer to have a day off ahead of the playoffs.
Two years ago, the Mets and the Atlanta Braves had to play a doubleheader the day after the scheduled end to the regular season. The teams split, sending both clubs to the playoffs while eliminating the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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