Cleveland Guardians- Pittsburgh Pirates opener postponed as poor air quality

CLEVELAND: The opening game of the weekend Major League Baseball series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed on Friday after hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke made conditions unsafe for play.

The decision was taken after representatives from both teams and the umpiring crew met at 4:30 p.m. ET, with the air quality index reaching 203, a level considered very unhealthy.

The postponement means the two clubs will now play a split doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. ET, while the second is set for 7:10 p.m. ET, although rain is forecast for much of the evening.

Pittsburgh's Jared Jones (1-1) and Cleveland's Gavin Williams (10-4), who had been due to start Friday's contest, will take the mound in the opening game.

The Guardians will promote Logan Allen for the second game, marking only his second major league appearance of the season, while the Pirates have yet to announce their starter.

The series carries significant importance for both sides following the All-Star break. Cleveland, with a 51-46 record, began Friday level with the Chicago White Sox at the top of the American League Central, while Pittsburgh (50-47) remained two games behind Miami in the race for the National League's final wild-card berth.

It is pertinent to mention that Cleveland also received encouraging news as injured third baseman Jose Ramirez resumed fielding drills during his recovery from surgery on a fractured hamate bone in his left hand.