New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back) threw to hitters for one inning in a live batting practice session at camp on Tuesday. "I feel like I'm in a good spot right now," Blackburn said. "Just excited to be here, just trying to go day by day, not try to do too much and just slowly progress into the start." The 31-year-old veteran's 2024 season ended early due to a spinal fluid leak that required surgery on Oct. 11, but he's back to throwing now and is working with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to refine his sinker and sweeper in order to add more run to his sinker and more horizontal movement to his sweeper. Blackburn is competing for a rotation spot with Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning after being limited to 14 starts in 2024 due to injury. Because he's a bit behind in camp, both Megill and Canning figure to be ahead of Blackburn in the rotation competition.
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back), who required surgery in October of last year to fix a leak around his spinal cord, is a little bit behind the rest of the team's pitching at the start of spring training, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon and Tim Britton. Blackburn will be competing primarily with Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill for the sixth and final spot in New York's starting rotation to begin the year. Canning and Blackburn have the advantage over Megill because they don't have any minor-league options remaining, but Blackburn's back injury could hurt his chances. The 31-year-old make only five starts for the Mets in the second half after they acquired him from the A's at the trade deadline, and he stumbled to a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 24 1/3 innings. Blackburn has never thrown more than 111 1/3 innings in the big leagues and could be a piggyback option even if he wins a rotation spot.
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back), who had surgery on Oct. 11 to fix a spinal fluid leak in his back, is on track to be healthy and ready to roll for Opening Day in 2025, according to president of baseball operations David Stearn. The front-office executive also said that the Mets view Blackburn as a starter, but he can also pitch out of the bullpen if needed. It sounds like the Mets could very easily use Blackburn in a swing role next year, especially after already adding right-handers Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes, the latter of which is expected to move from a relief to starting role in 2025. The 31-year-old began the year with the Athletics in 2024 before being acquired by the Mets in a trade at the deadline. The former first-rounder went a combined 5-4 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a 59:21 K:BB in 75 1/3 frames over 14 starts. He'll only be relevant in fantasy in a starting role for the Mets.
Paul Blackburn Out 4-5 Months After Spinal Surgery
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back) is expected to miss four to five months after undergoing a cerebrospinal fluid leak repair on his back on Oct. 11, according to the team. While there's enough time for Blackburn to get ready before the start of the 2025 regular season, the Mets probably aren't going to rush him in spring training, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the veteran hurler isn't an option to begin the regular season in New York's starting rotation. The 30-year-old began 2024 with the Oakland Athletics before getting traded to the Big Apple in late July. He was slightly more effective in his nine starts with the A's before the trade, as he went 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA (4.69 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in his five starts over 24 1/3 innings with the Mets while missing time with multiple injuries.
The New York Mets moved right-hander Paul Blackburn (back) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday in order to activate right-hander Kodai Senga (calf, triceps) from the 10-day IL in order to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets put Blackburn on the 10-day IL in late August due to a hand injury before he injured his back and was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak. The 30-year-old veteran is now done for the rest of the year and won't be able to join the Mets in the postseason, even if they were to make an improbable run to the World Series. Blackburn began the year with the Oakland Athletics and made nine starts for them before being dealt to New York at the deadline. In his five starts with the Mets, Blackburn has inconsistent, posting a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 21 K's and seven walks in his 24 1/3 innings.
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back, hand) isn't feeling much better after being scratched from his scheduled start this week due to a new back injury, so he will not return from the injured list this weekend to pitch against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Right-hander Tylor Megill, who was lights-out in place of Blackburn on Monday against the Washington Nationals, will get at least another start and is in line to face the Phillies on Sunday. Megill won't be as nice of a streaming option if he faces the Phillies in the series finale on Sunday, but he could also get flipped to Monday in what would be a rematch of the Nats. Blackburn hasn't looked great since being acquired from the A's and hasn't pitched Aug. 23, when he took a comebacker off his hand. It's unclear at the moment how much longer Blackburn will be out as the Mets look to secure a playoff spot.
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back, hand) was originally expected to come off the 15-day injured list to start on Monday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, but those plans were scrapped due to a back issue, and Blackburn will not pitch in the series in Toronto this week. Right-hander Tylor Megill made the spot start on Monday and tossed six shutout innings with two walks and nine strikeouts in a tough-luck no-decision. The Mets will see if Blackburn improves in the next couple of days, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. A comebacker to his right pitching hand put the 30-year-old on the IL on Aug. 25, but now he could be in danger of missing the rest of the 2024 regular season if his back injury is serious enough. The Mets could definitely use Blackburn as they try to sneak into the National League playoffs as a wild-card team, although he's been pretty lackluster since joining the Mets via trade.
Paul Blackburn Won't Start Monday, Tylor Megill To Get The Nod
New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (hand), who was originally scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make the start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, will no longer start, according to the team. Instead, right-hander Tylor Megill is the team's new probable starter. It's unclear if Blackburn has had a setback with his hand, but if he hasn't, the 30-year-old veteran could just be pushed back a day as a precaution. Blackburn suffered a right-hand bruise several weeks ago on a comebacker but is close to rejoining the Mets' starting rotation. Since coming over from the Oakland Athletics in a trade, Blackburn has been an unreliable fantasy streamer, going 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in 24 1/3 innings over his five starts. He'll be a shaky deep-league streamer if he rejoins the rotation this week in Toronto.
Paul Blackburn Set To Return From Injured List On Monday
New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (hand) is set to return from the 15-day injured list on Monday to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Blackburn hit the injured list on August 30 after suffering a right-hand contusion. Blackburn looked sharp in his lone rehab outing on September 3, where he logged six 2/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out four. Seeing how quickly the 30-year-old is set to return, fantasy managers should not expect him to face any serious innings limit on Monday. Blackburn could be worth keeping on your roster in deeper leagues, as he should remain in the Mets rotation during the final weeks of the season. This summer, Blackburn sits with a mediocre 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 21:59 BB:K ratio through 75 innings of work.
New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (hand) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday afternoon with a right-hand contusion. In a corresponding move, the Mets promoted right-handed pitcher Huascar Brazoban from Triple-A Syracuse. The 30-year-old starting pitcher suffered the injury in his previous start on Friday evening, but his CT scan returned negative. However, Blackburn will sit out for at least the next 15 games. Brazoban made nine appearances at the major league level this summer and held a 3.76 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 44 punchouts across 40 frames of work. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to who claims the open spot in the rotation. Tylor Megill is a possible candidate to earn the call from Triple-A, as he has received several major league starts this summer.
Paul Blackburn
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Mets
