The Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 2026, was played under hazy, smoke-filled skies attributed to wildfires in Canada. The game, held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, was moved up to an earlier start time due to the adverse air quality conditions.
Despite the smoke, which one player described as feeling "like you were sitting by a campfire," play was never stopped. Home plate umpire Dan Iassogna monitored the situation throughout the game, checking with players and the grounds crew. "It got almost, like, foggier. Guys didn’t seem to be having trouble," said Phillies manager Don Mattingly.
Players noted the discomfort caused by the smoke. Mets player Brett Baty reported, "My eyes were burning and itching a little bit." Francisco Alvarez, who hit two home runs in the game, indicated that "by the end of the game, it was a little more difficult to catch and see." Christian Scott described the air on the field as having "got a little thick."
Interim Mets manager Andy Green commented on the conditions, stating, "I don’t think they really did. It felt like they could have at any moment, especially as visibility got tougher." The game concluded with the Mets defeating the Phillies 4-1. Fans also experienced the effects of the smoke, with some seen wearing masks during the game as a precaution against the poor air quality. The smoke's intensity reportedly increased as the game progressed, though it did not appear to directly impact the outcome by causing any dropped fly balls.