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Major League Baseball’s first game after the All-Star break was played in “unhealthy” air conditions.
The Philadelphia Phillies hosted the New York Mets as air quality due to the Canadian wildfires reached an index of 196; other parts of the Northeast and Midwest approached 500, which is considered dangerous.
Due to air issues, it was announced around 4 pm ET that the game, originally scheduled for 7:10 pm, would be moved up an hour, which was apparently a good idea.
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The sun glows orange from smoke from Canadian wildfires near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a game against the New York Mets on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP)
“I didn’t think it was bad until the last couple innings. Eyes were stinging, burning a little bit,” Mets infielder Brett Baty said. “[Carson] Benge said it felt like he was sitting by a campfire, right near a campfire, which was pretty cool. “It’s fun, but I didn’t feel very good playing ball with him.”
“At the end of the game, it was a little more difficult, especially the catch,” Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez added through an interpreter. “Eventually it became harder to watch.”
Mets pitcher Christian Scott said he “felt like I was breaking something metal.”
Bryce Harper was a little harsher, saying while on the microphone for the ESPN broadcast during the game that “it wasn’t the best idea to go out and play in this kind of weather.”
Phillies starter Aaron Nola added that the “smoky” conditions were “not ideal.”
Both interim managers, Don Mattingly and Andy Green, didn’t seem to think the air affected the game too much, but Mattingly and Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh credited umpire Dan Iassogna for constantly checking the air quality and making sure the players were okay.
A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
TRINITY RODMAN SAYS NWSL RECORD-CROWD GAME IN NY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLAYED IN POOR AIR
“It seemed like there might be [affected the game] “At any time, especially when visibility became more difficult,” Green said. “Guys got to see baseballs that I couldn’t see when they went up in the air like pop-ups. Thank goodness we have good athletes on the field who can see things. I don’t think it ended up being like that, from my perspective.”
In fact, Marsh said the referees would check with the players to see if they were okay and had no breathing problems.
“Several times,” Marsh said. “They were checking in with us, asking the players, which was great to see, if we were ready to go. And obviously, we were all ready to go. It was good of them. I wasn’t expecting that.”
The Phillies did not hold batting practice outdoors, as Mattingly admitted he wanted to be on the field “as little… as possible.”
The Mets and Phillies are actually off on Friday before resuming their series on Saturday, but Mattingly said he hasn’t heard any talk about changing the game.
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets on July 16, 2026. The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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An MLS game in Chicago was also postponed Thursday. The air is expected to improve as the days go by, which seems pretty important for Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
