Members of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets voiced unease about playing in unhealthy air quality caused by smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires, in what was Major League Baseball's first game after the All-Star break. Star player Bryce Harper said taking to the field in such conditions was "not the greatest idea," reflecting broader concern among athletes and health officials about the risks of exertion in polluted air, as poor air quality events become an increasingly frequent disruption to outdoor sport in North America.

The air quality index reached 196 at the Phillies-Mets game in Philadelphia, classed as "unhealthy," while parts of the wider Northeast and Midwest saw readings approaching 500, deemed hazardous. Organisers responded by moving the first pitch forward an hour, from 7:10pm to 6:10pm ET, a decision the article suggests proved sensible given the conditions. The incident followed separate reports that air quality concerns from the wildfires had already forced the rescheduling of two other professional sports fixtures.