Pirates players sound off on MLB for playing in unhealthy air quality; Andrew McCutchen masks up

The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres are wrapping up their sequence on Thursday at PNC Park, regardless of an unhealthy air high quality index in western Pennsylvania.

The sport was delayed 45 minutes on account of poor air situations brought on by lingering smoke from wildfires in Canada – this resulted in several MLB games being postponed this month and air high quality had been a priority throughout Wednesday evening’s sport as properly.

Nevertheless, all events determined to play on Thursday regardless of the haziness within the air.

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“After collaborative discussions between Main League Baseball, the Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation, our crew of skilled medical suppliers at Allegheny Well being Community, our gamers and employees, we have now made the choice to maneuver ahead with our sport at present,” the Pirates stated in a press release. “We’ll proceed to intently monitor the air high quality index ranges across the ballpark and reply accordingly.”

Nevertheless, members of the Pirates weren’t thrilled with the choice, which is in the end as much as MLB.

Andrew McCutchen stated he was “involved” about taking part in and wore a masks throughout Thursday’s sport.

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, proper, wears a face masks as he celebrates after a win over the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh on June 29, 2023. Smoke from wildfires in Canada has been hanging over downtown Pittsburgh and PNC Park for a number of days. (AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar)

“After all I am involved,” McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette previous to the sport. “You learn the alerts. You learn the whole lot they’re saying, making an attempt to remain secure from exterior. One of many most important issues is to keep away from strenuous exercise, and that is what we’re doing for three-plus hours on the market.”

“I do not actually know why we’re taking part in,” catcher Austin Hedges told AP. “It looks like everyone seems to be type of uneducated on this topic, which is just too dangerous. It is clear as day once you have a look at your cellphone and also you verify the numbers. Like, it is informed you do not go exterior. They don’t seem to be telling you do not go exterior, and so they’re not saying that for no motive. We’re not any completely different than another people.”

This view from PNC Park exhibits Canadian wildfire smoke descending on the Pittsburgh downtown skyline on June 29, 2023. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)

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The wildfire smoke additionally threatened the Belmont Stakes this month, however the air high quality index returned to wholesome ranges simply in time.

The Related Press contributed to this report.