Brewers-Cubs starting after Phillies-Dodgers tonight in the name of fairness

Cubs fans are feeling frustrated with the late start for Game 4 of the team’s National League Division Series against the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Thursday, after the Phillies and Dodgers play Game 4 of their NLDS in Los Angeles.

TBS is airing both series, but MLB sets the times for all postseason games. Why would it schedule a game in the Central time zone after a game in the Pacific time zone?

There are two reasons, the Sun-Times has learned. First, the Eagles are playing the Giants on “Thursday Night Football,” which kicks off at 7:15 on Prime Video. Overlapping the Phillies and Eagles’ games wouldn’t be fair to Philadelphia fans.

Second, all of the Dodgers’ home games so far this postseason have been at night. That hasn’t been the case for any of the teams still in contention. So, also in the name of fairness, MLB granted the Dodgers their first day game. MLB aims to balance teams’ day games and night games through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

If the Cubs-Brewers series goes the distance, Game 5 on Saturday in Milwaukee would start at either 3:38 or 7:08. It would start at the former time if the Phillies-Dodgers series goes to Game 5. It would start at the latter time if it’s the only NLDS Game 5.

Game 4 marks the second 8:08 start time in the series. Had the Dodgers beaten the Phillies on Wednesday, it would’ve started at 6:08 p.m. as the only NLDS Game 4.

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