With smoke from Canadian wild fires getting worse in the region, Major League Baseball postponed today’s scheduled series finale between the Nationals and Diamondbacks, citing the health risks current conditions pose for players, fans and stadium workers alike.

The teams were able to play Tuesday and Wednesday night as planned under a hazy sky that wasn’t nearly as bad as it was in Philadelphia and New York, where games were postponed Wednesday. They were supposed to finish the three-game series at 1:05 p.m., but the air quality is considerably worse today, with Washington officially categorized as “Code Purple.”

The decision whether to play or not was made by MLB, with consultation with both teams and the MLB Players Association, and was announced about 90 minutes before first pitch.

“This postponement was determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and the two impacted clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in Washington, D.C.,” the league said in a press release.

This was to be the last time the Nationals and Diamondbacks faced each other this season, but Arizona will now be forced to come back to Washington for a June 22 makeup game at 1:05 p.m., a common off-day for both teams. The Nats begin a West Coast trip to San Diego and Seattle the following day. The D-backs will make a side trip to D.C. in between series at Milwaukee and San Francisco.

We have to give them credit for trying, but the Nationals and Phillies will not be able to play tonight’s doubleheader nightcap.

The remnants of Hurricane Ian are moving into our area, so tonight’s game has been rescheduled to 7:05 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 1. All tickets for tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game will now be honored for tomorrow night’s game.

Tomorrow’s originally scheduled 1:05 p.m. game is still scheduled to be played at that time. But the Nats’ press release announcing the latest schedule change did include the phrase “at this time,” implying that game could be in jeopardy as well. 

This now means the two teams will, in fact, try to play a doubleheader on Saturday as was originally scheduled before the second game was moved to this afternoon, a game the Phillies won 5-1. The original doubleheader was scheduled for tomorrow to make up one of the two games lost between these teams when the first week of the regular season was canceled due to the offseason lockout.

For now, the Nats are planning on starting Aníbal Sánchez in Game 1 tomorrow and Tommy Romero in Game 2.

Despite initial hopes of being able to play tonight before an expected storm arrived, the Nationals’ game against the Rockies was postponed once it became clear the rain would likely hit earlier than anticipated.

The announcement didn’t come until about 25 minutes before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. first pitch, with many in the crowd for Juan Soto Shuffle Bobblehead Night having already settled into their seats and no rain in the immediate vicinity yet. Both teams’ starters – the Nats’ Aaron Sanchez, the Rockies’ Austin Gomber – were already getting loose in the outfield as the game was officially postponed.

The clubs will play a split, separate-admission doubleheader Saturday, with the makeup game starting at 12:05 p.m. and the original 4:05 p.m. game now moved to 6:05 p.m.

Fans who held tickets and parking passes for tonight’s game can use them for admission to Saturday’s 12:05 p.m. game or call the Nationals ticket office to exchange them for a future available date. Fans who hold tickets and parking passes for Saturday’s 4:05 p.m. game can use them for the rescheduled 6:05 p.m. nightcap.

The evening forecast looked dicey all day, with a first round of storms sweeping through the Washington area around noon and another round expected to arrive sometime in the 8-9 p.m. range tonight. There was consideration given to postponing the game earlier, but Major League Baseball did not give the official approval until about 6:40 p.m.