On Wednesday, Major League Baseball postponed two games due to air quality being negatively impacted by the Canadian wildfire in Quebec: Yankees vs. White Sox in New York and Phillies vs. Tigers in Philadelphia. Both of the games have been pushed back to play today. Nationals vs. Diamondbacks in Washington D.C., however, will be played as scheduled.
“These postponements were determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and all of the impacted clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in both cities,” the league said in an announcement.
Conditions worsened overnight after the two teams played Tuesday’s game through an air quality that at the start of the game was over 150, which is considered an unhealthy level. Several players on yesterday afternoon warmed up on the field prior to the announcement that the game was being postponed.
The New York area has been blanketed by a yellowish producing hazardous air quality, “You see the orange coming through the doors, and then you walk outside like, ‘whoa,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
According to AirNow, air quality in the Bronx exceeded 400 in the afternoon on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality index. A recording over 300 is considered hazardous.
“This is an unprecedented event in our city, and New Yorkers must take precautions,” Adams said. “At the moment, we recommend vulnerable New Yorkers stay inside, and all New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible.”
