• Loading stock data...
Friday, April 25, 2025

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Affecting MLB, MiLB Games

  • Minor-league games postponed in Scranton-Wilkes Barre, Syracuse due to unhealthy air.
  • Game at Yankee Stadium played in dystopian haze.
Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Game postponements and cancellations could soon domino across sports — particularly in the Northeast U.S. — due to a thick wave of dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Hundreds of fires spanning from British Columbia to Nova Scotia have blanketed large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. in a haze of yellowish-gray skies, creating air-quality levels officially deemed unsafe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The New York Yankees played Tuesday night at home against the Chicago White Sox despite New York City officials issuing an official health alert for all five boroughs and Yankee Stadium shrouded in the smoky haze – which prompted a social media frenzy

New York City’s air quality ranks among the worst in the world. 

The Yankees’ top minor-league affiliate, the Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders, postponed their home game in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. The Syracuse Mets, the top affiliate of the New York Mets, similarly postponed their game Tuesday and moved a special Wednesday morning Education Day game to 6:35 p.m. before postponing it entirely.

A NWSL match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Orlando Pride set for Wednesday was also shifted to August.

Air quality is projected to worsen Wednesday, and the smoke is expected to remain in some form for at least the rest of this week, likely creating further issues for MLB and Minor League Baseball. The situation remains under close watch by the league, MLB Players Association, and MiLB.

Later Wednesday, MLB games in New York and Philadelphia and a MiLB game in Scranton-Wilkes Barre were all postponed, joining Syracuse. The WNBA’s New York Liberty on Wednesday also postponed a scheduled game at Barclays Center.

In 2020, MLB postponed two Seattle Mariners home games due to air-quality issues related to California wildfires.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Goodell: Three NFL Games Every Christmas Moving Forward

The league is returning to scheduling three games on the holiday this season.

Knicks, Rangers to See Big Cut in MSG Networks Media-Rights Fees

The teams will each see big reductions in their local media-rights fees.

NFL Draft Attendance in Green Bay Easily Tops Early Projections

Round 1 drew 205,000 fans in and around Lambeau Field.
MLB Speedway Classic rendering

Baseball Meets Bristol: Braves-Reds Game Aims for Record Crowd

Playing an MLB game inside a racetrack brings unique challenges.

Featured Today

The Former NBA Agent Who Became a Pickleball Deputy Commissioner

Chris Patrick went from representing Jimmy Butler to pickleball deputy commissioner.
Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.
April 21, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball

The projected No. 1 pick just declared for the draft.
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards
April 21, 2025

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
April 20, 2025

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.

Ohio State’s $20M Roster Sends 7 Players to NFL in First Two..

The NIL-fueled title team had more draftees than all of the Big 12.
Sponsored

Fighting for Clarity: Inside UFC’s New Partnership With Total Wireless

UFC teams with Total Wireless in a no-frills partnership built for today’s mobile-first, value-driven fanbase.
April 25, 2025

Trump Defends Sanders After Snub: ‘What Is Wrong With NFL Owners?’

He said Shedeur Sanders has “phenomenal genes” and asked if owners are “stupid.”
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
April 24, 2025

Fewer NFL Draft Prospects Will Be in Green Bay. Here’s Why

There will be 15 NFL Draft prospects in Green Bay.
Vancouver
April 23, 2025

PWHL Picks Vancouver for First Expansion Team

More than 19,000 fans attended a game in Vancouver in January.
USL
April 23, 2025

USL Super League Sells Its Name in Push for Soccer Relevance

The deal was for seven figures.
April 23, 2025

NHL’s U.S. Playoff TV Ratings Down 27% in Early Games

This season’s numbers were down 12% compared to the 2023–2024 season.