Guardians vs. Pirates Game Postponed Due to Smoke from Canada Wildfires

Updated July 17, 2026, 5:02 p.m. ET

What Happened?

The Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates were supposed to play a baseball game on Friday night, July 17, at Progressive Field (the Guardians’ home stadium). But the game did not happen.

• Both teams said the game was postponed (pushed to another time) because of worries about the air quality.
• Progressive Field is in Cleveland, Ohio.

Why Was the Air Bad?

Big wildfires (really big outdoor fires) have been burning in Canada. These fires sent a thick layer of smoke across many parts of the United States, including Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

• In some places, like Detroit, the air got so bad it reached dangerous levels.
• Smoke in the air makes it hard and unsafe to breathe, especially if you are running around playing sports or sitting outside for a long time.

Important: The air in Cleveland was rated "very unhealthy" by AirNow (a website that tracks air quality) on the afternoon of the game. That is why it was not safe to play.

How the Decision Was Made

Major League Baseball (MLB – the big organization that runs professional baseball in the U.S.) talked with the teams all day about the games scheduled for July 17.

Here is how it played out:

1. At 6 a.m., the teams were still planning to play at 7:10 p.m. as normal.
2. At 4 p.m., they were still planning to play, but the air was already "very unhealthy" and everyone was watching the situation.
3. At 4:45 p.m., MLB and the teams decided the Guardians and Pirates could not play at Progressive Field because of low (bad) air quality.
4. The game was officially postponed.

What Happens Now?

The missed game will be made up later the same day as part of a "split doubleheader" (that just means two games in one day with a break between them).

• The postponed game is rescheduled for 1:10 p.m.
• The second game, which was originally at 4:10 p.m., will now start at 7:10 p.m.

What Did the Guardians Manager Say?

Before the game was called off, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt explained the thinking:

"Yeah, we want to be safe for our players. We want to make sure that it’s not too smoky, and obviously for the fans as well, it’s just not safe to be out in that environment if it’s not playable. … We can’t control Mother Nature. So we got to do what’s best and what’s smart for both teams and for the fans."

In simple words: they cannot control the smoke, but they can choose to keep people safe.

Summary

Because smoke from wildfires in Canada made the air in Cleveland "very unhealthy," the Guardians and Pirates game on July 17 was postponed at 4:45 p.m. The game will be made up as the first game of a split doubleheader at 1:10 p.m., with the second game at 7:10 p.m. Safety for players and fans was the main reason for the decision.

FAQ

1. Why was the Guardians game postponed?
Because smoke from Canadian wildfires made the air quality in Cleveland too unhealthy and unsafe for players and fans.

2. When will the Guardians and Pirates play instead?
They will play a split doubleheader on the same day: the postponed game at 1:10 p.m. and the other game at 7:10 p.m.

3. Who decided to postpone the game?
Major League Baseball, together with the Guardians and Pirates, made the decision after monitoring the air all day.

4. Was the air only bad in Cleveland?
No. Smoke covered many U.S. areas. Some places, like Detroit, had dangerously bad air, but Cleveland was also in the "very unhealthy" range.