Brewers vs. Cubs to Follow Phillies-Dodgers Tonight for Fairness
Fans of the Chicago Cubs are expressing dissatisfaction regarding the late start time for Game 4 in their National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Scheduled for 8:08 p.m. on Thursday, the game follows the Phillies and Dodgers matchup in Los Angeles, which is also part of the NLDS.
Scheduling Issues for Cubs and Brewers
Both series are being broadcast by TBS, but the timing of postseason games is determined by Major League Baseball (MLB). The late start has raised questions, particularly since it is unusual to schedule a game in the Central time zone after one in the Pacific time zone.
Reasons for the Late Start
- The Philadelphia Eagles are playing against the New York Giants on “Thursday Night Football,” starting at 7:15 p.m. on Prime Video.
- MLB aims to prevent overlapping games to ensure fairness for Philadelphia fans.
- All Dodgers home games during the postseason have occurred at night, unlike other teams still competing.
To balance the scheduling, MLB has provided the Dodgers with their first daytime game. This approach allows for a fair distribution of night and day games in the early playoff rounds.
Potential Consequences for Game 5
If the Cubs-Brewers series extends to a Game 5, it is set to take place in Milwaukee either at 3:38 p.m. or 7:08 p.m. The timing depends on the outcome of the Phillies-Dodgers series. Should that clash also require a Game 5, the Cubs and Brewers will play at the earlier time. If not, Game 5 will be scheduled for the later time.
Game 4 represents the second instance this series where the starting time has been set for 8:08 p.m. Initially, had the Dodgers secured a win over the Phillies, this game would have begun at 6:08 p.m. as the sole NLDS Game 4.
As the playoffs continue, fairness in scheduling remains a critical concern for MLB, especially for teams vying for advancement.
