MLB fixtures disrupted as Canadian wildfire smoke degrades air quality across US
Poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires has forced the cancellation of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians match at Progressive Field, with other regional games adjusted to mitigate health risks.
The Major League Baseball match between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Guardians, scheduled for Friday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, has been postponed due to poor air quality. The Cleveland Guardians confirmed the cancellation, citing unfavorable atmospheric conditions stemming from smoke drifting south from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota.
According to CBS Sports, the smoke has significantly impacted air quality across the upper Midwest and eastward regions. The environmental event has previously turned skies orange across the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of Canada, with cities such as Chicago and Detroit recording some of the worst air quality globally on Friday afternoon.
In response to the hazardous conditions, other fixtures in the affected region have been adjusted. The Thursday night game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets in Philadelphia, which marked the MLB’s first contest after the All-Star break, was moved up by one hour to account for the smoke.
The Pittsburgh-Cleveland series is scheduled to resume with a split doubleheader on Saturday. The plan outlines start times of 1:10 p.m. ET for the first game and 7:10 p.m. ET for the second. However, it remains subject to change based on air quality conditions closer to the event.
While the Pirates-Guardians postponement is confirmed, it may not be the only game affected on Friday night. The extent of other cancellations in the region remains uncertain, with smoke from the fires rising into the atmosphere and travelling eastward via the jet stream.
