Can Yankees play Dodgers today? How air quality, AQI, wildfire smoke impact potential postponement in NYC

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Can Yankees play Dodgers today? How air quality, AQI, wildfire smoke impact potential postponement in NYC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are scheduled to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in a marquee matchup to return from MLB's All-Star Break.

That is, as long as the air quality (AQI) and wildfire smoke in New York City, and in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium specifically, cooperate.

Wildfires raging in Canada have had their smoke blown across the northeastern United States, and it has created a haze in recent days in the Big Apple.

The Phillies hosted the Mets in Philadelphia on Thursday night in some smoky haze but did play their game. MLB games in the past have been postponed for air quality, so it's not unprecedented.

At least in the Bronx, things look like they might trend in the right direction throughout the day.

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Can Yankees play Dodgers today with air quality?​

While the air quality doesn't begin ideally Friday in the Bronx, it's projected to trend in a good direction.

If the forecast is correct, this game will be no problem by Friday night.

As of 7 a.m. ET, the AQI is 127 -- in the category of "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

But the website IQAir shows an hour-by-hour drop throughout the day, getting into the 50s by first pitch, which while not perfect is not considered a health risk.

It'll still be worth checking these numbers later in the day. A change in wind patterns can drastically shift this trend, and if the AQI ended up rising on Friday rather than falling, there'd be more question about playing baseball in the evening.

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