General manager David Stearns said Monday that Blackburn (back) is on track to be ready for Opening Day of the 2025 season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blackburn was diagnosed with a cerebrospinal fluid leak in mid-September, which required him to undergo surgery Oct. 11. Barring any setbacks, the timeline for that surgery typically takes 4-to-5 months, and based on Stearns' comments Monday, it appears the 31-year-old right-hander will be ready to pitch for the start of the regular season. Blackburn started 14 regular-season games between the Mets and A's last season and posted a 5-4 record with a 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 59:21 K:BB across 75.1 innings, though whether he works out of the Mets' rotation or bullpen next year has yet to be determined.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Out up to five months post-surgery
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Blackburn underwent surgery Oct. 11 to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Per the Mets, it's a procedure which typically carries a return to play timeline of 4-5 months. That would seemingly give Blackburn a shot to be ready in time for Opening Day, provided there are no setbacks along the way. If healthy, Blackburn should open the 2025 season in the Mets' rotation. He held a 4.66 ERA and 59:21 K:BB over 75.1 innings covering 14 starts between the Athletics and Mets in 2024.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Moved to 60-day IL
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Blackburn (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, per MLB's transaction log.
Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list in late August due to a hand injury. He subsequently suffered a back issue and was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak in mid-September. Blackburn's move to the 60-day IL officially ends his 2024 season. The transaction also clears way on the Mets' 40-man roster for Kodai Senga, who was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move and is set to start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Won't return this season
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesdaythat Blackburn (back) won't pitch at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blackburn had hoped to be available for the Mets at some point during the playoffs, but he is still having issues after first experiencing a spinal fluid leak in mid-September. The righty posted a 5.18 ERA over five starts for the Mets after being acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline. He'll be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time this winter.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Hopes to return next week
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Blackburn (back) will play catch Wednesday and hopes to return from the 15-day injured list as soon as the middle of next week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blackburn is dealing with a spinal fluid leak but is feeling better after being given about 10 platelet-rich plasma injections. The right-hander hasn't pitched in two weeks, and the layoff, combined with how well the members of New York's rotation are currently pitching, means that Blackburn would likely return as a reliever once he's activated.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Diagnosed with spinal fluid leak
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President of baseball operations David Stearns said Saturday that Blackburn has a spinal fluid leak in his back, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The Mets aren't sure exactly how Blackburn suffered the injury, but the team is shutting him down for the time being. Stearns noted that the right-hander's injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue, though there's no telling how long he will be held out.
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Mets' Paul Blackburn: Out through this weekend
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Blackburn (hand/back) isn't feeling much better and won't be activated from the 15-day injured list to 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 IL at this point, but he'll be sidelined for at least another week.
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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: 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: 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.
