EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- Cubs manager Craig Counsell was quick to point out the disadvantages his team faces this weekend after the league moved Sunday's game against the Red Sox to Friday with a nor'easter expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to the Boston area.The teams now are scheduled to play a split doubleheader Friday at Fenway Park before concluding their regular seasons Saturday."They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation," Counsell said Wednesday. "So we can't have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday. They just moved games up on us. I understand there's extenuating circumstances, but you just don't see that happening."Under normal circumstances, a rainout oftentimes leads to a doubleheader the next day, giving starters of the postponed game an extra day of rest. In this case, the Cubs will have to move Saturday's starter to Friday, leaving who pitches in Game 162 in flux -- assuming weather doesn't affect the rescheduled games.It's likely left-hander Shota Imanaga will pitch on short rest if Saturday's game is played as scheduled."What I know is happening is we're going to play three games," Counsell said. "So if weather is an issue, then yeah, we're going to have to figure out a place to play a third game."The league has discussed all options for the series, including moving it to another city as a last resort. With the postseason starting Tuesday, neither wants to play Monday. Boston has already clinched a spot; the Cubs' magic number remained at one after Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins and Arizona's win over Colorado. Chicago watched starter Kevin Gausman exit that game in the sixth inning after his left (non-pitching) shoulder "grabbed on him a little bit" after he applied a tag on a Miami baserunner, Counsell said.But seeding -- and home field advantage -- is still to be determined, making the weekend series an important one. Adding some annoyance for Chicago is the fact that its season could be done while its closest competitors would have two more games to play, and league rules don't allow for an extra rostered player for September doubleheaders, further putting a burden on its pitching staff."The decision is made always on a balance of everybody's interest," Counsell said. "And you get shortchanged in some ... or not have the optimal solution."Meanwhile, Counsell said he is hopeful to have third baseman Alex Bregman in a game against the Red Sox, his former team, this weekend. Bregman spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday since getting hit in the left cheek by a foul ball while on-deck Sunday."It felt like I got hit by a baseball bat to the face," Bregman said. "The left side of my face has been numb. As soon as the swelling goes down, I'm sure I'll feel the breaks a little bit more."Bregman's left eye is blood red while his cheek is still swollen but getting better. He said he can see fine and will continue to work his way back one "step at a time.""There's a lot of fluid in my face over there," he explained. "If I move, the fluid moves. So if I'm bouncing up and down, my face feels like it's bouncing up and down."Bregman is likely to return as a DH but will need to move around and run the bases before being cleared. He's not sure when that will be but is confident he'll be ready for the postseason."I think I'm excited how he feels and he's excited, but he still needs to feel some things and he hasn't run around yet," Counsell said. "And I think he's got to do that."
