Red Sox-Cubs Game 162 relocated to Tropicana Field on Sunday

The final game of the Boston Red Sox's 2026 regular season will not be played at Fenway Park. MLB.com reports that Game 162 between the Red Sox and Cubs has been relocated to Tropicana Field on Sunday, September 27, with weather cited as the reason for the move.

What happened

The series between Boston and Chicago has already seen scheduling adjustments this week — the September 25 start time was moved up 30 minutes to 5:35 p.m. ET, per earlier reporting. Sunday's finale now shifts venues entirely, with the two clubs set to play at the Tampa Bay facility instead of Boston.

Why it matters

Under ordinary circumstances, a relocated Game 162 between two teams with nothing left to decide would be a footnote. This one carries a bit more weight. The Red Sox, who clinched a playoff berth on September 20 under manager Chad Tracy, are locked in as the AL No. 5 seed and will face the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. That means Sunday's game is less about the standings and more about health, roster management, and the kind of final tune-up a team wants heading into October.

There is also a residual seeding wrinkle worth noting: per earlier reporting, a long-shot three-way tie scenario could still drop Boston to the AL No. 6 seed, which would redirect their Wild Card matchup from New York to Texas. That scenario has not been reported as resolved.

Where the club stands

Sunday's game at Tropicana Field is Boston's final scheduled regular-season contest, per the upcoming schedule. The Red Sox's playoff positioning — No. 5 seed, Wild Card Series against the Yankees — is reported as set, pending the outcome of any remaining seeding scenarios.

What we don't know yet

The most pressing open question heading into Sunday involves Willson Contreras. Per earlier reporting, Contreras has been unable to swing for two days due to right hand pain after being hit by a pitch, was considered unlikely to play in the September 25 doubleheader, and has expressed concern about his availability for the Wild Card Series itself. Whether Sunday's game provides any clarity on his status — or simply passes without him — remains to be seen.

The probable pitchers for Sunday's Tropicana Field game have not been reported in the available material, so the pitching picture for the finale is not yet public.

What to watch

The relocated finale gives Boston's coaching staff one last look at their roster before the postseason begins. Watch for any lineup decisions around Contreras and whether the club uses Sunday to get key contributors meaningful at-bats or opts for a more cautious approach with the Yankees series on the horizon. The seeding question — New York or Texas — is also worth monitoring as other results come in.

Chad Tracy's Red Sox, a team that completed a mid-season turnaround to reach October, will close their regular season in a dome in Tampa. Baseball has a way of making the mundane feel earned.