Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Blackburn (hand/back) isn't feeling much better and won't pitch against the Phillies this weekend, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The 30-year-old was scheduled to start Monday against the Blue Jays after missing a couple weeks due to a bruised hand, but he ended up being scratched due to back discomfort. It's unclear when Blackburn will be able to return from the injured list at this point, but he'll be sidelined for at least another week.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Scratched due to back issue
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Manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Blackburn (hand) was scratched from his start Monday against the Blue Jays due to a back issue, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 25 after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand. He was slated to return from the IL to start Monday, but the Mets opted to delay activating him once the back issue cropped up. Mendoza added that the Mets will monitor Blackburn's back over the next couple of days, and the right-hander will not pitch in the upcoming series in Toronto, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: No longer starting Monday
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Blackburn (hand) is no longer in line to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game in Toronto, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The Mets will give a spot start to Tylor Megill instead. Blackburn could be pushed back a day to start Tuesday in Toronto, though the team has not yet confirmed as much. He has missed the last two weeks with a right hand bruise but tossed 6.2 innings of one-run ball in a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse last week.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Returning from IL to start Monday
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Blackburn (hand) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday in Toronto, Tyler Antonelle of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Blackburn landed on the IL on Aug. 25 after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand in his start in San Diego two days prior, but he's been given the green light to rejoin the New York rotation after completing a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse. He struck out four while allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk across 6.2 innings in the outing with Syracuse, so Blackburn shouldn't face any workload restrictions when he takes the hill for the Mets on Monday.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Dealing with bruised hand
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Blackburn was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after getting hit by a comebacker during Friday's game against San Diego.
Blackburn appears to have avoided a significant injury, but he's scheduled to undergo further testing Saturday. Once the results of those tests come back, a clearer picture will emerge regarding his status for his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come Thursday in Arizona. Blackburn has a 5.18 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB through 24.1 innings since joining the Mets.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Hit in hand, exits game
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Blackburn was removed from his start Friday against the Padres after getting hit by a comebacker, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blackburn took a 100-mph line drive off his right (pitching) hand in the third inning. He'll presumably head in for imaging to determine if he suffered any structural damage, and his status for his next scheduled start against the Diamondbacks is uncertain. Before being pulled, the 30-year-old surrendered five earned runs on 10 hits while striking out one batter over 2.1 innings.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Fires six strong innings
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Blackburn pitched six innings of one-run ball in Sunday's loss to the Marlins, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four. He did not factor into the decision.
Coming off a brutal outing where he allowed six runs and took the loss against the Athletics, Blackburn fared much better Sunday, yielding just one run on a Nick Fortes sacrifice fly in the third inning. Blackburn turned in his seventh quality start of the season and now has three quality starts in four outings since being acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline. The 30-year-old owns a 3.68 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 20:7 K:BB in 22 innings with his new club. He is currently lined up to face the Padres next weekend.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Altered pitch mix with new team
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Blackburn has thrown his cutter and changeup more, at the expense of his four-seam fastball and curveball, since joining the Mets, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
While the Mets' coaching staff didn't explicitly tell the right-hander to drop the curve and four-seamer from his arsenal, they did encourage Blackburn to lean more on the pitches that graded out the best. "I know my cutter is one of my better, if not my best pitch, analytically," Blackburn said. "I'm just kind of taking that and running with it. Really just using my best pitch as much as possible... There were times earlier this year where I did get beat on some fastballs, and after the fact, it's like 'What am I doing? Throwing my fourth- or fifth-best pitch?' " Blackburn has been a strong addition to the Mets' rotation since being acquired at the trade deadline, delivering back-to-back quality starts -- including one at Coors Field -- with a 12:4 K:BB in 12 innings.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Set for team debut Friday
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Blackburn is scheduled to make his first start for the Mets on Friday against the Angels in Anaheim, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blackburn has yet to be officially added to the Mets' 26-man active roster after being acquired via trade from the Athletics on Tuesday, but that will happen this weekend. The right-hander has been limited to just nine starts this season because of a foot injury but has been decent when healthy, holding a 4.41 ERA and 38:14 K:BB over 51 innings. With Blackburn joining the rotation, the Mets will send No. 5 starter Tylor Megill to the bullpen, at least temporarily.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Heading to playoff contender
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The Mets acquired Blackburn from the Athletics on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Kade Morris, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Mets have been on the lookout for rotation reinforcements and have found one in Blackburn. The right-hander returned this past Friday from a stint on the 60-day injured list due to a stress reaction in his right foot, allowing four runs over five innings in his first start back with Oakland. Overall, Blackburn has posted a 4.41 ERA and 38:14 K:BB across 51 frames covering nine starts in 2024. He'll be under team control through 2025.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Earns win in return
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Blackburn (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings to earn the win Friday over the Angels.
Blackburn's return from a stress reaction in his right foot got off to a rough start -- he allowed two-run home runs to Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel in the first inning. Manager Mark Kotsay let Blackburn work through the issues, and the right-hander did well to settle in before exiting after 72 pitches (41 strikes). He's now at a 4.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB through 51 innings over nine starts this season. Blackburn may have modest workload restrictions over his next one or two starts, and he's projected for a challenging home outing against the Dodgers next week.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Returning from IL on Friday
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Blackburn (foot) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Angels in Anaheim, MLB.com reports.
Blackburn will make his first start for the Athletics since May 10, when he suffered a right foot stress reaction during an outing in Seattle. Oakland is electing to activate Blackburn despite the fact that he maxed out at 2.2 innings and 49 pitches during his three minor-league rehab starts and was most recently roughed up for seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks in his last outing for Triple-A Las Vegas on July 20. Manager Mark Kotsay said Thursday that Blackburn will be limited to around 65-to-70 pitches in his return, and the Athletics could turn to Joey Estes in relief if length is needed behind the veteran right-hander.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Completes second rehab outing
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Blackburn (foot) worked two-thirds of an inning in his rehab outing with Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout. He also hit a batter.
Blackburn's busy outing featured 23 pitches due to his subpar control, with the right-hander locating 14 of those offerings for strikes. He was originally slated to remain with Single-A Stockton for Sunday's rehab appearance after an even poorer outing that also lasted two-thirds of an inning Tuesday. However, that plan was apparently altered in recent days, and Blackburn may now remain with Las Vegas for the duration of his rehab assignment. Given how his first two minor-league appearances have unfolded, Blackburn will likely remain on the farm for at least another couple of outings before he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Staying put for next rehab outing
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Blackburn (foot) will remain with Single-A Stockton for his next rehab appearance, which will take place Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Blackburn scuffled through a 23-pitch rehab debut Tuesday against Rancho Cucamonga, lasting just two-thirds of an inning and surrendering three earned runs. A previous report had indicated Blackburn would move up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his second rehab outing, but it appears Tuesday's rough showing led to those plans being scuttled. Blackburn presumably remains on track to return shortly after the All-Star break, as he came away from his first minor-league appearance feeling healthy.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Poor showing in rehab debut
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Blackburn (foot) appeared in relief for Single-A Stockton against Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Blackburn was slated to throw about 35 pitches, but he was pulled after just 23 due to his struggles. The right-hander worked himself into trouble immediately upon entering in the third inning, issuing back-to-back walks and allowing a pair of run-scoring singles. Blackburn could still be bumped up to Triple-A Las Vegas for his next rehab appearance Sunday, although it remains to be seen if Tuesday's poor showing alters those plans.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Next rehab steps outlined
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Blackburn (foot) will throw a bullpen session Saturday and then report to Single-A Stockton to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander is finally on the cusp of a long-awaited return to game action, provided Saturday's bullpen session goes well. Blackburn is slated to follow fellow rehabbing starter Ross Stripling (elbow) out of the bullpen in Stockton's game Tuesday and is projected to throw up to 35 pitches. If the outing goes well, Blackburn will then be slated to bump his rehab assignment up to Triple-A Las Vegas for a likely start or appearance Sunday, July 14.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Live BP completed Wednesday
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Blackburn (foot) threw live batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports.
The right-hander has now completed two bullpen sessions and Wednesday's live batting practice in the last eight days, meaning his rehab program has started to pick up the pace. Manager Mark Kotsay previously stated Blackburn would head out on a rehab assignment if there were no residual effects from Wednesday's activity, and the coming days should confirm whether that's still the plan of action.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Making progress in throwing program
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Blackburn (foot) threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Angel Stadium and is set to complete another one Saturday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has been making steady progress over the last week-plus, as he's already thrown two bullpen sessions and has seemingly come away from that activity without setbacks. If Saturday's session also goes off without a hitch, Blackburn could progress to facing hitters as the next step in his recovery.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Throwing off mound Thursday
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Blackburn (foot) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Thursday will mark the first time Blackburn has thrown off a mound since he landed on the injured list May 13 due to a fracture in his right foot. He isn't expected to return until after the All-Star break, but a more precise return timeline for the 30-year-old may emerge after he throws a few additional bullpen sessions and progresses to facing live hitters.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Athletics transferred Blackburn (foot) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
Blackburn landed on the injured list May 13 following a stress reaction in his right foot, and his move to the 60-day IL makes it more than likely he remains sidelined through the All-Star break. The 30-year-old righty has been in a walking boot for the past several weeks but is slated to be re-evaluated by the Athletics during their current homestand. Once the team is able to take a closer look at him, plans for a throwing program may begin to form.
