A much-anticipated alteration to the schedule of the World Series may finally happen this year, pleasing both baseball enthusiasts and teams.
Major League Baseball has signaled the possibility of moving up the commencement of the Fall Classic by three days should the league championship round conclude ahead of schedule. As per a social media announcement, if both the American League and National League Championship Series wrap up no later than Saturday, Oct. 19, the World Series is set to kick off on Oct. 22, with the potential for a decisive Game 7 on Oct. 30.
The current timetable for the World Series first game is Oct. 25, with the last possible game falling on Saturday, Nov. 2. This arrangement clashes with pivotal college football matches influencing the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Baseball teams facing extended downtime after winning the LCS have encountered challenges in transitioning into the World Series. A notable instance is the 2007 “Rocktober” Colorado Rockies, who succumbed to the Boston Red Sox in a four-game sweep during that Fall Classic following a 10-day hiatus between the NLCS and World Series. Despite winning 14 of their last 15 regular-season games, along with a tiebreaker to enter the playoffs and sweeping two NL playoff series, their momentum was halted.
The newfound flexibility is a boon for the participating teams in this year’s Series, also bringing joy to Fox, the broadcaster of the World Series.
While expediting proceedings can be advantageous, it may not significantly boost the viewership for the Series, which has been on a decline for years barring the Chicago Cubs’ victory in 2016. Moreover, the primetime college football slate for Week 10 is yet to be confirmed, with multiple games involving Power Five teams lacking official start times. This could lead to stiff competition for viewership should a Game 7 be scheduled for Nov. 2.
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