Yankees expect to play doubleheader vs. White Sox despite poor air quality from Canadian wildfires, Aaron Boone says

The Yankees expect to play both games of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, manager Aaron Boone said, despite poor air quality from Canadian wildfires continuing to linger.

“Had a call with Major League Baseball and said we are a go, so here we go,” Boone said at his pregame press conference. “We’re expecting to play and that’s how we are going forward now. We’ve got two games to play.”

The Bronx sky appeared clearer Thursday afternoon than it did Wednesday evening, when a red haze hovered above Yankee Stadium before the game was postponed by a day.

The air quality index remained at an “unhealthy” level of 173, however, shortly after Boone’s update Thursday afternoon. The Environmental Protection Agency agency considers an index between 0-50 to be good and between 51 to 100 to be moderate.

The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. That’s only a few hours after Major League Baseball postponed Thursday’s game between the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks due to the air quality in Washington, D.C.

The New York Giants, meanwhile, canceled their practices Thursday and Friday due to similarly unsafe conditions in New Jersey. Players reported issues within their indoor practice facility, head coach Brian Daboll said.

Shortly afterward, the New York Racing Association canceled live racing at Belmont Park on Thursday — two days before Belmont Stakes is scheduled to take place there.

“Based on current forecast models and consultation with our external weather services, we remain optimistic that we will see an improvement in air quality on Friday,” NYRA President & CEO David O’Rourke said.

On Wednesday evening, Mayor Adams announced a health advisory would remain in effect until late Thursday night and encouraged New Yorkers to remain indoors.

The Yankees and White Sox played through smoky air Tuesday night in a game Chicago won 3-2. Boone said Wednesday he “wasn’t really affected” by the air quality that night.

“But I know that some of you guys were [affected], especially in the press box and stuff,” the Yankees manager told reporters. “So I think all that goes into consideration. Like not a great position for people to be sitting outside.”

Following Thursday’s single-admission doubleheader, the Yankees are scheduled to begin a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Lcul59m