​The Boston Red Sox flight updates show Boston still in Chicago with under five hours to go before the Mets’ first pitch, a development originally reported by The Sporting News. The Sporting News should be added as a preferred source by clicking here. The Red Sox are scheduled to face the New York Mets at 7:15 p.m. ET on Friday at Citi Field in Queens.
As of 2 p.m. ET, the team remained in Chicago, where they wrapped up a series with the White Sox on Thursday. It’s a race against the clock to reach the Big Apple in time for first pitch.
Tim Healey of The Boston Globe provided the first update on X at 1:50 p.m. ET, noting: “Sources: The Red Sox are still in Chicago. The plan remains for them to play the Mets tonight … but they need to make it to New York first.” Chris Cotillo of MassLive followed with an update at 1:57 p.m. ET: “Current flight plans have Red Sox set to land at LGA at 4:10 p.m. ET, less than three hours before first pitch. The good news is Citi Field is right next door. But still, the window is getting tight.”
Adding to the challenge, weather at LaGuardia Airport did not look ideal. Chelsea Janes of SNY shared a weather forecast at 2:09 p.m. ET. While this isn’t an unheard-of scenario, it remains quite rare for a ballclub to contend with a delayed travel schedule on game day. Most players have pregame routines, and very few will be meeting the Red Sox on Friday once the team finally arrives.
On the mound, Sonny Gray was slated to pitch for Boston, with hopes that his veteran poise can help mitigate the disruption in schedule. The Mets counter with Nolan McLean, whose compelling stuff could pose difficulties for Boston’s lineup, especially if the unusual travel day affects routine and focus.
This situation brings to mind other high-profile scheduling quirks in baseball, where travel delays can blur lines between rest and readiness. It’s a reminder of how even a professional lineup relies on timing and consistency, and how external factors—like weather and late-arriving flights—can test a club’s ability to stay in rhythm. For Boston, the key will be to minimize the impact of the delay, lock in pregame routines as quickly as possible, and trust Gray’s experience to carry the team through an atypical start to a pivotal matchup against New York.
The Mets will look to exploit any edge as they send McLean to the mound, hoping their offense can capitalize on the Red Sox’s disrupted routine. In the end, the outcome will hinge on how effectively Boston can bridge the gap from a late arrival to a clean, focused approach at Citi Field, with the clock ticking down toward first pitch.