Schedule Follies

While I'm sure the Cubs don't mind their off day today -- especially since they lost their last one on June 11 and have played 17 consecutive days and 26 out of 27 -- looking at the schedule for this week raises the following obvious question:

Why aren't the Cubs playing today?

The Cubs, scheduled at home yesterday afternoon, had a two-hour flight to the Dallas area. The Rangers, playing yesterday afternoon in Cincinnati, had about the same flight time home.

Why isn't the series being played Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night? The off-day forced the Rangers to schedule a Thursday day game, because the Cubs must be in Chicago on Friday to play the White Sox in a 3:05 game at the Cell. Here's the Thursday afternoon weather forecast for Arlington, Texas:

As opposed to Wednesday night's forecast:

The Rangers have only 5 other home day games the rest of the season: Saturday vs. Houston (a 2:55 start asked for by Fox-TV); Sunday, July 8 vs. Baltimore (the last day before the All-Star break); two other Sundays in September and their last home game of the season, September 26, when, presumably, it's a bit cooler during the day.

So, enjoy the off day -- I'm sure the Cubs are -- but if anyone can explain the odd scheduling this week, go right ahead, because I'm stumped.