Cubs’ Craig Counsell Says Chicago At Disadvantage After Powerful Nor’easter Forces Schedule Change

It didn’t take long for Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell to highlight the disadvantages his ballclub faces after MLB moved Sunday’s contest against the Red Sox to Friday due to a nor’easter expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the Boston area.

The franchises are now slated to play a split doubleheader, which takes place Friday at Fenway Park prior to completing their regular seasons Saturday. (RELATED: Yankees Already Face Potential Wild Card Upset Before October Even Arrives)

“They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation,” said Counsell, per ESPN. “So we can’t have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday. They just moved games up on us. I understand there’s extenuating circumstances, but you just don’t see that happening.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell was quick to point out the disadvantages his team faces this weekend after the league moved Sunday's contest against the Boston Red Sox to Friday due to a poor weather forecast. https://t.co/jGzFieRHnA

Normally, a game being rained out results in a doubleheader being played the next day, which provides the postponed contest’s starting pitchers with an extra day of rest. In this particular situation, Chicago is forced to shift their Saturday pitcher to Friday, causing a state of flux for the pitching situation in Game 162. This is assuming that weather doesn’t impact the games that have been rescheduled.

If Saturday’s game continues as scheduled, left-hander Shota Imanaga will play as the likely pitcher, doing so on short rest.

“What I know is happening is we’re going to play three games,” said Counsell. “So if weather is an issue, then yeah, we’re going to have to figure out a place to play a third game.”