CLEVELAND -- Friday’s series opener between the Pirates and the Guardians was postponed due to poor air quality conditions in Northeast Ohio, and the game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader at Progressive Field on Saturday.
First pitch for the rescheduled game is set for 1:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, while the originally scheduled contest will move from 4:10 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
Friday’s postponement came 2 1/2 hours before first pitch. Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the Northeast Ohio skies while Cleveland and Pittsburgh players went through pregame workouts. At 5 p.m. ET, the Air Quality Index in Cleveland was 211, which is well above what is considered a healthy level (0-50).
Gates will open at noon ET for the first game Saturday, and they will open at 5:30 p.m. for the nightcap. Fans with tickets to Friday’s postponed contest can use the same ticket to enter the ballpark on Saturday. The Guardians noted Friday’s “Sugardale Dollar Dog Night” promotion will not transfer to Saturday.
Gavin Williams (who was the Guardians’ probable starter on Friday) is set to start Game 1 on Saturday. Logan Allen is expected to be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start the second game while serving as Cleveland's 27th man for the doubleheader.
Fans must clear the ballpark between games.
The Guardians (51-46) came out of the All-Star break on Friday riding a four-game winning streak and holding a share of first place with the White Sox (50-45) in the AL Central standings. The Pirates (50-47) sat two games back of the National League’s third Wild Card spot, after entering the break above .500 for the first time since 2016.