Air quality still ‘very unhealthy,’ but second game of Cubs vs. Phillies series a go

Fans watch Tuesday’s Cubs-Phillies game as smoke from Canada’s ongoing wildfires shrouds Wrigley Field. (Kim Johnson/AP)

Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed Chicago again on Wednesday. But unlike Tuesday, the Cubs didn’t have hourly check-ins with Major League Baseball. The Cubs and Phillies knew they were going to play. 

The air quality index was around 250 Wednesday afternoon, comparable to the day before. By game time it had dropped to 226, according to AirNow.gov. That mark was still in the “very unhealthy” range, when the Environmental Protection Agency recommends avoiding “prolonged or heavy exertion” outside.