PLYMOUTH, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – The hot temperatures are impacting businesses in Michigan.  

“Today was a really slow day for us,” said Tanya Yaldo, the owner of Thai House in downtown Plymouth.

Yaldo said the heat is impacting her business in multiple ways. For one, she said not many people want spicy food when they are already sweating. She said it is also uncomfortable for her employees, as two people called out of work on Monday. Yaldo said they are constantly running their air conditioning, which is even more costly when business is slow. 

“We actually had one of our walk-in coolers actually break down today because of the heat because we have our compressors indoors. So, it’s really really hot upstairs. That’s another problem we’re facing here,” she said.

She said she worries about how they will cope with multiple days of high heat.

“We’re not looking forward to it. Downtown usually is better in the summer, but when it’s a heat wave like that, it’s bad,” said Yaldo.

They closed their patio as most people don’t want to brave the heat, but not everyone.

“I didn’t even have to light this. The heat lit it,” said Anthony Kellum, referencing his cigar from La Casa cigar shop. “It’s funny I was in there; it was a little cool, came out here, and you’re uncomfortable. But once you sit down for a while, your body adjusts to the temperature, you’re good.”

He said the heat isn’t something to ignore. 

“You have to be conscious and concerned for the elderly, right? And then you have to also be conscious and concerned for people who don’t have air conditioning. It’s hot,” said Kellum. 

ATLANTA — The Detroit Tigers don’t have any position players in the running for the 2024 All-Star Game in the first update of balloting, which lists the top 10 players at the five infield positions, 10 players at designated hitter and 20 players in the outfield.

MLB released its first update of fan voting Monday afternoon, but there isn’t a single Tigers player listed among the 80 position players from the American League, not even outfielder Riley Greene.

Twenty position players from each league make the All-Star team, with at least six outfielders. Fans can vote on MLB.com, but Phase 1 of the voting concludes June 27 at noon ET. (Fans cannot vote for pitchers.)

WATCHING HIM GROW UP: After taking the next step, Tigers’ Riley Greene is thinking ‘pure’ at the plate

Greene is by far the Tigers’ best position player, especially with fellow outfielder Kerry Carpenter on the injured list.

“He’s a hell of a player,” said Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, seemingly on track to be the AL’s starter in the All-Star Game. “I don’t think that embodies him as a player. I’m about as big of a 31 fan as there is. I love the way he does everything. Watch the series he just had, too. That kind of speaks to who he is as a player.”

Other teams in the AL Central have multiple players on the leaderboard, including nine players from the Cleveland Guardians and six players from the Kansas City Royals, though the Minnesota Twins have just one player — shortstop Carlos Correa — on the 80-player leaderboard.

Among AL outfielders, Greene ranks 10th in fWAR (1.9), fifth in wRC+ (133), fifth in OPS (.824), 11th in batting average (.252) and tied for fifth in home runs (14). The 23-year-old, who plays all three outfield positions, also ranks sixth in plate appearances (301) and tied for 10th in games played (70).

“The fans obviously have the power in this to do what they see fit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I think Tarik is well-positioned, one way or the other, Jack (Flaherty) has had a really good year, Riley, I would love to see him get some love. It’s not something I pay huge attention to, but it’s fun for the guys and fun for the fans.”

HIM: How Tigers’ Tarik Skubal matured into an Opening Day ace with Cy Young potential

In fWAR, which is the number of wins a player adds to his team compared to a replacement-level player, Greene’s 1.9 trails only Aaron Judge (5.0), Juan Soto (4.5), Kyle Tucker (3.2), Jarren Duran (2.9), Daulton Varsho (2.2), Colton Cowser (2.1), Willi Castro (2.1), Yordan Alvarez (1.9) and JJ Bleday (1.9) on the list of 25 qualified AL outfielders.

Castro played for the Tigers from 2019-22, but he was cut loose alongside third baseman Jeimer Candelario and utility player Harold Castro in November 2022 — exactly two months after Scott Harris took over as the president of baseball operations — because the Tigers didn’t think he was worth paying a projected $1.7 million in his first year as an arbitration-eligible player.

Castro, a 27-year-old switch-hitter who plays infield and outfield, has turned into an above-average player for the Minnesota Twins over the past two seasons, making $3.3 million in 2024.

REMEMBER WILLI? Ex-Tiger Willi Castro: ‘I really appreciate A.J. Hinch’ for instilling versatility

Meanwhile, Greene is hitting .310 with five home runs across his last 18 games, dating to May 29. He set career highs in Saturday’s 13-5 win over the Houston Astros with four hits and six RBIs, delivering his second multi-homer game of the season.

The Tigers selected Greene with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 draft. He has never made the All-Star team in his three MLB seasons, hitting a combined .266 with 30 home runs and a .761 OPS in 262 games.

Tarik Skubal, a win-first player

Skubal is the frontrunner to win the AL Cy Young Award. He’s also shaping up to be the AL’s starting pitcher for the 2024 All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

But Skubal isn’t focused on the All-Star Game (or the Cy Young Award).

“I’d much rather win a lot of games than be in the All-Star Game,” Skubal said. “That’s kind of how I’ve always felt. I think winning cures everything. Think about every team that wins a World Series. What happens with their guys after that?”

Skubal, 27, has a 2.20 ERA with 16 walks and 98 strikeouts across 86 innings in 14 starts this season. His 2.7 fWAR ranks second among AL pitchers, trailing only Tanner Houck (3.2).

The Tigers have 10 wins in Skubal’s 14 starts.

There hasn’t been an All-Star starting pitcher from the Tigers since Max Scherzer in 2013.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

DETROIT – Air quality was forecast to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” on Monday across Metro Detroit.

Pollutants were expected to combine with hot temperatures to create “bad” ozone across Metro Detroit by the afternoon. High temperatures were forecast to reach the mid-90s on Monday, June 17, and will feel even warmer because of the humidity.

An air quality alert, also known as an “ozone action day,” was issued for Monday in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The air quality index, known as the AQI, was expected to enter the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range, which is between a 101-150 AQI. An AQI above 300 is considered hazardous.

At this range, most people won’t be affected by the poorer air quality.

However, those in “sensitive groups” — such as young children, older adults, or those with asthma or other respiratory issues — may be impacted by breathing in the air, especially over a long period of time. They’re encouraged to reduce exposure to the ozone by “choosing less strenuous activities” or spending less time outside.

The “ozone action day” title is also meant to encourage people to avoid activities that can lead to ozone formation, including refueling vehicles, using gas-powered lawn equipment, and using charcoal lighter fluid.

“At the earth’s surface, ozone comes into direct contact with life-forms and displays its destructive side (hence, it is often called ‘bad ozone’),” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. “Because ozone reacts strongly with other molecules, high levels of ozone are toxic to living systems.”

Officials say the bad ozone may continue to affect Southeast Michigan for the next few days, at least.

“With winds at all levels of the atmosphere coming from the hot southwest, Air Quality will certainly be an issue, this week,” according to AirNow.gov, a federal platform created through a partnership with the EPA, CDC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and more.

—> Heat wave hits Metro Detroit this week: What to know

What causes “bad” ozone?

“Bad” ozone is found at ground level. In cities, it’s made when emissions from vehicles, power plants, chemical plants, and other sources react with heat and sunlight. The hotter the day and the stronger the sun, the more ozone is formed. That’s why ozone is usually worst on windless, hot summer afternoons. High levels of ozone are mainly a concern for people from April 1–September 30.

You’re most likely to find high levels of “bad” ozone in urban areas. You might hear it called “smog.” However, other areas can also have high ozone levels when winds blow pollution hundreds of miles from their original sources.

How does “bad” ozone affect people?

Even at low levels, breathing ozone can cause chest pains, coughing, and throat irritation. It can also aggravate lung diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. The more ozone pollution a person breathes, the more permanent damage it can do to her lungs.

Because it usually forms in hot weather, anyone who spends time outdoors in the summer may be affected – children, older people, outdoor workers, and people exercising may be particularly susceptible. The higher the ozone level, the more people who will experience health symptoms. Millions of Americans live in areas where ozone levels are higher than the national health standards, and should pay attention to ozone levels when the weather is hot and sunny.

Staying safe amid air quality alert

Follow these simple tips to stay safe when there is an air quality alert:

• Stay inside if possible, particularly if you have respiratory concerns or other health problems, are a senior or child.

• If you must go out, try to limit the amount of time you are out to strictly essential activities.

• Minimize your use of items that increase pollution, such as cars, gas powered lawn mowers and other vehicles.

• Do not burn debris or other items during an air quality alert.

• Take the bus, carpool, telecommute, bike, or walk. You’ll reduce traffic congestion and air pollution as well as save money.

• If you plan to barbecue, use an electric starter or charcoal chimney instead of lighter fluid. Fumes from the fluid contribute to ozone formation.

• Avoid drive-thru facilities or other situations where your vehicle idles for an extended period of time. You’ll save money on gas and reduce pollution.

Who is most at risk?

Several groups of people are particularly sensitive to ozone, especially when they are active outdoors. This is because ozone levels are higher outdoors, and physical activity causes faster and deeper breathing, drawing more ozone into the body.

• People with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, can be particularly sensitive to ozone. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Ozone can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital admissions.

• Children, including teenagers, are at higher risk from ozone exposure because they often play outdoors in warmer weather when ozone levels are higher, they are more likely to have asthma (which may be aggravated by ozone exposure), and their lungs are still developing.

• Older adults may be more affected by ozone exposure, possibly because they are more likely to have pre-existing lung disease.

• Active people of all ages who exercise or work vigorously outdoors are at increased risk.

• Some healthy people are more sensitive to ozone. They may experience health effects at lower ozone levels than the average person even though they have none of the risk factors listed above. There may be a genetic basis for this increased sensitivity.

In general, as concentrations of ground-level ozone increase, more people begin to experience more serious health effects. When levels are very high, everyone should be concerned about ozone exposure.

What are the health effects?

Ozone affects the lungs and respiratory system in many ways. It can:

• Irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing, throat soreness, airway irritation, chest tightness, or chest pain when taking a deep breath.

• Reduce lung function, making it more difficult to breathe as deeply and vigorously as you normally would, especially when exercising. Breathing may start to feel uncomfortable, and you may notice that you are taking more rapid and shallow breaths than normal.

The risk of exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone is greatest during warmer months. Children, who often play outdoors in warmer weather, are at higher risk.

• Inflame and damage the cells that line the lungs. Within a few days, the damaged cells are replaced and the old cells are shed—much like the way your skin peels after sunburn. Studies suggest that if this type of inflammation happens repeatedly, lung tissue may become permanently scarred and lung function may be permanently reduced.

• Make the lungs more susceptible to infection. Ozone reduces the lung’s defenses by damaging the cells that move particles and bacteria out of the airways and by reducing the number and effectiveness of white blood cells in the lungs.

• Aggravate asthma. When ozone levels are unhealthy, more people with asthma have symptoms that require a doctor’s attention or the use of medication. Ozone makes people more sensitive to allergens—the most common triggers for asthma attacks. Also, asthmatics may be more severely affected by reduced lung function and airway inflammation. People with asthma should ask their doctor for an asthma action plan and follow it carefully when ozone levels are unhealthy.

• Aggravate other chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. As concentrations of ground-level ozone increase, more people with lung disease visit doctors or emergency rooms and are admitted to the hospital.

• Cause permanent lung damage. Repeated short-term ozone damage to children’s developing lungs may lead to reduced lung function in adulthood. In adults, ozone exposure may accelerate the natural decline in lung function that occurs with age.

Sources: AQI, NWS, EPA, SEMCOG.