The Cubs’ wild weekend is underway, and it could get wilder.
With a Nor’easter threatening Boston, where the Cubs were scheduled to finish the regular season this weekend, the Rays’ Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, is standing by to host the game Sunday.
FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported Friday that the Trop’s operations teams are preparing to handle “security, concessions, ticketing and neutral-site venue branding,” among other logistical needs, to host Game 162.
The Cubs and Red Sox are scheduled to play a split doubleheader Friday. After the nightcap, the Cubs are set to fly to St. Pete. The day game Friday was moved from Sunday, with the game Saturday night still scheduled.
Now that game appears close to being moved to Sunday, giving the teams a day off Saturday after playing three games in two days. The Red Sox will have played three games in 24 hours after playing a night game Thursday.
MLB is doing everything it can to get the series in because of its impact on seeding in the National League wild-card picture. The Padres hold the top spot and home-field advantage in the wild-card round. They’re one game ahead of the Cubs and two ahead of the Phillies. The Cubs own the tiebreaker over both.
The Diamondbacks are trying to crash the party. They’re the only NL team outside the playoff picture still alive, and they’re visiting the Padres this weekend.
The wild-card round is scheduled to run Tuesday to Thursday, after a day off Monday.