End Of Season Equalizer

http://donatelifeohio.org/

On the last day of the season all games on the Major League schedule starts at 3:10 Eastern, 2:10 Central, 1:10 Mountain and 12:10 Pacific time.

This is the second year that Major League Baseball has done this, according to Rob Butcher, the Reds' Director of Media Relations.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

Prior to last season MLB recognized that teams playing on the West Coast one day before the playoff started had an advantage.

For example if Pittsburgh and St. Louis were tied for the last playoff spot with Pittsburgh at home and St. Louis on the road in Los Angeles, the Cardinals could change starting pitchers knowing the fate of the Pirates in a game played four hours earlier.

The Cardinals would start their ace and regulars if the Pirates win but would have an advantage over their one-game opponent.  Suppose the Cardinals were in a one-game playoff with the San Francisco Giants, who ended the season in Miami.  Once Pittsburgh lost and the Cardinals clinched the final Wild Card, they could pull Adam Wainwright against the Dodgers and rest its regulars for the game with the Giants.

The Reds play the Cubs on the last day of the season at Great American Ball Park at 3:10 on October 2.  The Cubs will win the Central Division crown and the Reds will not make the playoff so it is unlikely to affect either team.