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Major League Baseball’s first game after the All-Star break was played in “unhealthy” air conditions.
The Philadelphia Phillies were hosting the New York Mets as air quality due to Canadian wildfires reached an index of 196 — other parts of the Northeast and Midwest approached 500, which is considered hazardous.
Because of the air concerns, it was announced around
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The sun glows orange from smoke from the Canadian wildfires near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a game against the New York Mets Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP)
“I didn’t think it was bad until the last couple of innings. Eyes itchy, burned a little bit,” Mets infielder Brett Baty said. “[Carson] Benge said it felt like you were sitting by a fire, right next to a fire, which was pretty good. It’s fun, but it didn’t feel good to play ball with it.”
“At the end of the game, it was a little more difficult, especially catching,” Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez added through an interpreter. “It got harder to see at the end.”
Mets pitcher Christian Scott said he “felt like I was crushing some metal.”
Bryce Harper was a bit more stern, saying while miked on the ESPN broadcast during the game that it was “not the best idea to come out and play in this type 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 gameplay 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 OK.
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)
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“It felt like it could have been [affected the game] at any point, especially as the visibility got tougher,” Green said. “Guys managed to see baseballs that I couldn’t when they went up in the air like pop-ups. Good thing we have good athletes on the field who can see things. Don’t think it ultimately did, from my perspective.”
In fact, Marsh said the umpires would check with the players to see if they were okay and not having breathing problems.
“Several times,” Marsh said. “They checked with us and asked us players, which was cool to see if we were good to go. And of course we were all ready to go. That was good of them. Didn’t expect that.”
The Phillies did not take 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 heard no conversations about moving 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 quite important for Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
