Why Was the Red Sox-Cubs Finale Moved to Tampa's Tropicana Field?

The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs will close their regular season Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, after Major League Baseball relocated the series finale because of an approaching nor'easter forecast to soak Boston through the weekend, according to ESPN.

What happened to the Red Sox-Cubs finale?

The two clubs played a doubleheader Friday at Fenway Park to get ahead of the storm system, ESPN reported. The league had initially planned to move the third and final game of the series to Saturday in Boston, but the forecast for rain through both Saturday and Sunday forced organizers to change the date and the city altogether.

Why was the game moved to Tropicana Field?

With Fenway Park unusable for the weekend under the incoming weather, the league selected Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to host Game 162, ESPN reported. Neither the Red Sox nor the Cubs wanted to delay the finale until Monday, since both teams are set to begin wild-card round play Tuesday.

Why did the Cubs oppose playing earlier in Boston?

Chicago had resisted the league's initial plan to move Sunday's game up to Saturday, arguing it would disrupt the rotation the team had set for the postseason. Cubs manager Craig Counsell laid out the objection before the schedule was revised.

"They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation," Counsell said, according to ESPN. "So we can't have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday."

The relocation to Tropicana Field, rather than a Saturday game in Boston, allowed the Cubs to keep their pitching plan intact heading into October, ESPN reported.

What is at stake for each team?

The Cubs are still competing for seeding position in the National League wild-card race, according to ESPN, meaning Sunday's result carries direct playoff implications for Chicago. The Red Sox, by contrast, have already secured the No. 3 seed in the American League and enter the finale with their postseason position locked in.

When and where will the game be played?

Game 162 between the Red Sox and Cubs is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, ESPN reported. Both teams open wild-card round play Tuesday, leaving no room to push the finale past the weekend.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers first reported the venue change and Counsell's comments on the schedule dispute.