Plane Trouble Has the Red Sox Stuck in Chicago and Friday’s Game Against the Mets in Question

The Boston Red Sox just swept the first-place Chicago White Sox, which is impressive. But now they can’t seem to get out of town.

A mechanical issue with the team’s charter plane has left the Red Sox stranded in Chicago as of Thursday evening, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. That puts Friday night’s scheduled game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in serious doubt. First pitch was set for 7:15 p.m. ET, but the team hasn’t made it to New York yet, and there’s no clear timeline for when they’ll get airborne.

The timing is brutal, honestly. Boston has been on a tear in July, looking like one of the hottest teams in the American League. They just dismantled a White Sox squad that entered the series in first place. Now they might have to forfeit some of that momentum if they can’t get on the field Friday.

No Confirmed Backup Plans Yet

The Red Sox have not officially announced any contingency plan. No word on whether they’re scrambling for another plane, hoping for a repair, or already accepting that Friday’s game could be postponed. The team’s travel staff is presumably working through options, but as of now, nothing is confirmed.

Fans online have been joking about the Red Sox renting a bus or catching commercial flights. But a full MLB roster with coaches, equipment, and support staff isn’t exactly easy to rebook on short notice.

For what it’s worth, the Mets are also in a tight spot. They’re trying to stay relevant in the National League playoff race, and a canceled game against a hot Red Sox team would throw off their schedule too. The league office would likely work with both sides on a makeup date if necessary, but no one wants that.

History Says These Things Get Sorted Out

Mechanical issues with team planes aren’t unheard of. They usually get resolved within a day. But the Red Sox have already endured more than their share of weird misfortune in the 2020s, and this late-July surge feels fragile enough without adding travel chaos to the mix.

The team is hoping for a fix overnight. If not, expect an announcement Friday morning about a postponement or schedule change. Either way, it’s a headache nobody needed.