Pirates catcher calls MLB 'uneducated' for making team play in hazardous conditions

Prior to the delay, however, Pirates catcher Austin Hedges questioned why the teams were playing at all.

“I don’t really know why we are playing. It seems like everyone is kind of uneducated on this subject, which is too bad,” Hedges said Thursday morning, via Wes Crosby of the Associated Press. “It’s clear as day when you look at your phone and you check the numbers. Like, it’s told you don’t go outside. They’re not telling you don’t go outside and they’re not saying that for no reason. We’re not any different than any other humans.”

Andrew McCutchen seemingly made his own statement about playing, as he wore a mask after reaching base in the first inning.

Smoke and air quality were major issues earlier in the month and prompted a few postponements. Nothing of the sort has happened to this point with the latest wave of smoke, but perhaps it should have.