The A's and Mariners played two seven-inning games "in full Monday" in Seattle, "splitting the doubleheader amid a smoky haze" as wildfires caused air quality concerns. A's manager Bob Melvin said that his team "weren't consulted" about a possible postponement. AQI levels in Seattle "exceeded 200 all day Monday, as smoke from over a dozen active wildfires in Washington covered much of the state." A's P Jesús Luzardo started the first game, and told reporters afterward that he was "gasping for air." Melvin said some of his players were "starting to feel it" during Game 2 (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 9/15).
Meanwhile, an NWSL Seattle Reign-Portland Thorns match, which was set for today in Portland, was "postponed until Sept. 30 due to ongoing air quality concerns in the Pacific Northwest." The match "had been postponed once already due to the wildfire smoke" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/15).
Santa Anita will "delay the opening of its fall horse racing season because of poor air quality from the Bobcat Fire." Originally scheduled for a Saturday Sept. 19 opening day, Santa Anita "will push the date back to Friday, Sept. 25." Entries for Opening Day, Sept. 25, "will be drawn" on Sunday, Sept. 20, "as scheduled" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 9/15).
