Baseball Games Postponed Because of Smoky Air

What Happened in Cleveland?

On Friday night, a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians was supposed to happen. But it got postponed — that means it was moved to a later time. Why? Because the air outside was not safe to breathe.

• The reason was wildfire smoke coming from Canada and northern Minnesota.
• The smoke made the sky dark and smell funny (pungent means a strong, unpleasant smell).
• It also made it hard to see far away.

Important: The air was dangerous to breathe outside, so the game was postponed to keep players and fans safe.

Why Was the Air So Bad?

Big wildfires (huge fires in forests) up in Canada and northern Minnesota sent smoke drifting down south. This smoke covered a large part of the United States:

• It spread from the Great Lakes area all the way to parts of the East Coast.
• In northeast Ohio, the sky was smoky and hazy for two whole days before the game.
• Officials warned people that going outside and breathing the air could be harmful.

When Will the Pirates and Guardians Play?

Instead of Friday, the teams will now play on Saturday as a "split doubleheader." That just means they will play two games in one day, at separate times:

1. Game 1 starts at 1:10 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).
2. Game 2 starts at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

Another Game Was Also Affected

On Thursday night, there was a different game: the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 4-1. That game was in Philadelphia.

• It was the only Major League Baseball game right after the All-Star break (a short pause in the season for a special All-Star event).
• It was moved earlier, from 7:10 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. EDT, because of the hazy conditions.

Summary

Because of unsafe wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota, the Pirates vs. Guardians game on Friday was postponed. The smoke made skies dark and air dangerous across many states. The teams will now play two games on Saturday. A Mets-Phillies game on Thursday was also shifted earlier due to haze. Everyone is staying safe by avoiding the bad air.

FAQ

What does "postponed" mean?
It means the game was stopped from happening on its original day and moved to a new day or time.

What is a split doubleheader?
It is when two teams play two separate games on the same day, one after the other, at different start times.

Why is wildfire smoke dangerous?
It can hurt your lungs and make it hard to breathe, especially if you are outside for a long time.

Where did the smoke come from?
The smoke came from big forest fires in Canada and northern Minnesota.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.