Updated Sun. Oct. 3 7:34pm
All playoff teams and matchups decided:
Wed. Oct. 6
Game 2: Cincinnati at Philadelphia
Game 3: NY Yankees at Minnesota
Last year, they started around 2:30, 6, and 9:30 ET on Wednesday. Maybe they push the starting times earlier so they start the game in Minnesota earlier and allow the game to start earlier in New York.
Thur. Oct. 7
Game 1: Texas at Tampa Bay
Game 2: NY Yankees at Minnesota
Game 3: Atlanta at San Francisco
With San Francisco hosting, maybe they can push the start times later than 2:30, 6, 9:30 to push the Yankee game closer to 7-8 pm ET.
Fri. Oct. 8
Game 1: Cincinnati at Philadelphia
Game 2: Atlanta at San Francisco
I would expect around 6pm and 9:30 pm, maybe push back half an hour.
Sat. Oct. 9
Minnesota at NY Yankees
Tampa Bay at Texas
This could go either way. If they do 6 and 9:30, Texas has to get the late game. Maybe they can switch the order of the games and start in Texas around 4:30pm ET (3:30 pm in Arlington) and then the Yankees around 8pm.
Sun. Oct. 10
Game 1: San Francisco at Atlanta
Game 2: Philadelphia at Cincinnati
Game 3: Minnesota at NY Yankees
Game 4: Tampa Bay at Texas
You probably have to start Atlanta at noon and make games start as soon as possible to prevent a late start in Texas (unfortunately Texas is the only team not in the Eastern time zone so they have to go last).
If both NLCS games finish Saturday, I see Tampa and Texas playing around 3:30/4 pm followed by Minnesota/Yankees in prime time.
If the Atlanta series ends on Saturday, I would expect Philly/Cincy around 2:30 pm, Minnesota/Yankees, Tampa/Texas
If the Philadelphia series ends on Saturday, I would expect San Francisco/Atlanta around 1pm, followed by Tampa and Texas and Minnesota and Yankees in prime time.
Mon. Oct. 11
Game 1: San Francisco at Atlanta
Game 2: Philadelphia at Cincinnati
If both games are played, expect a pre 6pm start time for Game 1 to prevent a late start in Cincinnati (or Atlanta)
Tue. Oct. 12
Game 1: Texas at Tampa Bay
Game 2: NY Yankees at Minnesota
Wed. Oct. 13
Game 1: Cincinnati at Philadelphia
Game 2: Atlanta at San Francisco
I would expect Tampa and Texas to be playing early Wednesday and Thursday. Yankees of course will be playing close to if not in prime time every time.
The Phillies should have all their games in reasonable slots. I would imagine they are more popular than Tampa and Texas and with them playing the Reds they won’t be playing any late night games like the ones in Colorado in 2007 and 2009.
Relevant NFL Games/Times Next Weekend:
Sites:
The Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the road.
The Cincinnati Bengals are at home next Sunday but they do not play in the same stadium as the Reds.
NFL Game Times:
1 pm start: NY Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals
8:20 pm start: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers
Monday night: Minnesota Vikings, NY Jets
The AL is off Monday so no conflicts with the MNF game is possible barring a rain out Sunday.
They would probably want the Phillies and/or Giants to not play around 8pm but considering the Yankees will play then it likely won’t matter.
As for the 1pm, too many teams to avoid. Someone probably has to play in that slot. Obviously the Yankees won’t be playing at 1 pm, I can’t imagine they would play an early game in Texas. I think it’s likely San Fran/Atlanta would be 1st over Philadelphia/Cincinnati (even though it is 10am in the Bay Area). Maybe they can move the Falcons game to 4pm to accomodate.
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