Will Cubs-Nationals play NLDS Game 4 Tuesday? Updated weather forecast
The Cubs and Nationals are scheduled to play Game 4 of the NLDS on Tuesday afternoon but rain could potentially delay or postpone the game.
For the second time in three games, the Chicago Cubs won a game in which they were being no-hit into the sixth inning. In Game 1, the Cubs beat Stephen Strasburg who kept Cubs hitters off-balance for 5.2 innings and in Game 3, it was Max Scherzer who was no-hitting the Cubs for 6.1 innings before Dusty Baker pulled him at 98 pitches.
The Cubs got a pinch-hit RBI single from Albert Almora Jr. who drove in Ben Zobrist who doubled off Scherzer. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Anthony Rizzo blooped a single between a trio of Nats defenders to plate Leonys Martin. Wade Davis nailed down the ninth inning for his second save in the series as the Cubs took a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 is scheduled for 5:38 p.m. EST on Tuesday and Jake Arrieta gets the start for the Cubs who are looking to advance to the NLCS where the Los Angeles Dodgers await after sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks.
However, the weather forecast may make fans wait for the start and the finish because a storm is coming.
Beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST, there is a 50 percent chance of rain at Wrigley Field and that percent only increases as the day goes on. There is a 70 percent chance of rain at 5:00 p.m. EST and it increases to 80, 90 and then 100 percent until 10 p.m. EST and stays that way until the following morning.
Next: One free agent each MLB team should sign
Needless to say, it’s going to be tough to get this game started on time and to get nine innings in without the rain delaying. It would be irresponsible to start the game only to have a lengthy delay after an inning or two and risk losing the starting pitchers for the rest of the game. That would be a travesty, so I think there’s a strong chance the game is delayed until the forecast gives at least a two-hour window where it’s relatively clear to play. And based on the hourly forecast from weather.com, it just doesn’t look like the Baseball Gods have that in store for today.
This could result in Game 4 being postponed until Wednesday, Oct. 11 but there are scattered showers in the forecast and a 50 percent chance of rain until 9:00 p.m. EST. The Cubs can wait out a little rain. They did it in Game 7 of the World Series when they won in extra innings after a 17-minute rain delay.