Major League Baseball has adjusted the schedule for this weekend's highly anticipated series between the Chicago Cubsand Boston Red Sox as a powerful nor’easter is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Massachusetts.

The three-game matchup carries significant postseason implications, with both clubs still battling for playoff positioning. To avoid potential weather disruptions, MLB has scheduled a Friday doubleheader, while the series finale has been moved to Saturday evening. League officials are also monitoring weather conditions and could shift Saturday's game to an earlier afternoon start if necessary.

Originally, every MLB team was set to play its final regular-season game on Sunday, allowing all playoff races and seeding scenarios to conclude simultaneously. However, the approaching storm forced the league to make an exception for the Cubs and Red Sox.

Current forecasts indicate increasing winds on Friday, with rain expected to intensify Saturday and conditions deteriorating further on Sunday. If weather delays prevent the series from being completed before the postseason begins Tuesday, MLB could face scheduling challenges should the results affect playoff seeding.

If all three games are completed by Saturday, both teams will benefit from an extra day of rest before the start of the postseason.

Playoff Picture

The Cubs enter the series still fighting to secure a National League playoff berth. Chicago is tied with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres at 87-70, with all three teams currently occupying the National League Wild Card positions. The Cubs also hold a four-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who remain in contention.

Even if Chicago officially clinches a playoff spot before the series begins, the club will still be competing for a higher postseason seed.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, have already secured an American League Wild Card berth. With the Tampa Bay Rayswinning the AL East and the New York Yankees locking up the top Wild Card position, Boston is now competing for either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, depending on the outcome of the final games of the regular season.

As playoff races tighten across both leagues, the weather-adjusted series could play an important role in determining the final postseason bracket.