The Phillies and Mets are set to restart MLB play Thursday night after the All-Star Break, but Philadelphia’s air quality has put the game in question.
Smoke from wildfires in northern Minnesota and across the Canadian border has drifted through the Northeast, leaving a hazy layer over several major cities. Philadelphia is among the places feeling the effects, and that has raised concerns about the AQI - the Air Quality Index - and whether conditions are safe enough for baseball.
As of Thursday morning, the game remained scheduled, though MLB is expected to make the call one way or the other. At 9:45 a.m., Philadelphia’s AQI was 171, which falls in the “unhealthy” range for all groups, not just sensitive groups, which is 101-150.
The Phillies have dealt with this before. They postponed a game in 2023 because of poor air quality, so this wouldn’t be a first for the club.
The threshold that tends to trigger real concern starts above 200, and that makes the day’s trend especially important. If the AQI climbs, the case for postponement gets stronger; if it improves, the game may go on as planned.
There’s also the obvious concern for the people on the field - players and coaches - along with the thousands of fans expected to attend. MLB may also be weighing what the air will look like later in the weekend, since that could affect how the schedule plays out beyond Thursday night.
For now, the answer is simple: the Phillies and Mets can play. Whether they should is the question hanging over the day.
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