Yankees' Paul Blackburn: Clobbered in Yankees debut
Rotowire
Blackburn tossed 3.1 relief innings against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters. He didn't factor in the decision.
When Blackburn entered in the sixth inning, the Yankees were down but not entirely out, trailing 5-1. The righty did fine by getting to the ninth without giving up any runs, but he was shelled in the final frame, when Boston teed off for seven runs on seven hits against him. Yankees manager Aaron Boone elected to allow Blackburn to essentially take one for the team, as the hurler threw 71 total pitches -- more than starter Will Warren, who tossed 69 pitches over four innings. Needless to say, things couldn't have gone much worse for Blackburn, who was making his debut with the Yankees after the team signed him to a contract Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Paul Blackburn: Links up with Yankees
Rotowire
The Yankees signed Blackburn to a one-year contract Thursday.
Blackburn was recently cut loose by the crosstown Mets but has quickly landed on his feet with a new major-league deal. He has struggled during his time at the big-league level this season, posting a 6.85 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB in 23.2 innings. Blackburn will presumably work in long relief for now and offers the flexibility to enter the rotation, should a need arise.
... See More... See Less
Paul Blackburn: Parts ways with New York
Rotowire
The Mets granted Blackburn his unconditional release Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Blackburn cleared waivers after the Mets removed him from the 40-man roster Saturday, and since he was unlikely to accept an assignment to the minors, the organization has allowed him to test the open market. The 31-year-old right-hander has ample big-league experience with 93 appearances (86 starts) over the past nine seasons, but he struggled over his seven outings (four starts) with New York in 2025, logging a 6.85 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB in 23.2 innings. Blackburn may have a tough time landing a major-league deal in light of his poor production, but his body of work should be enough to earn him a minor-league deal with an organization looking to bolster its starting depth at the Triple-A level.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Departing 40-man
Rotowire
The Mets are expected to designate Blackburn for assignment Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Blackburn has registered a 6.85 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 23.2 innings with the Mets this season. He's now set to lose his place on the active roster and 40-man roster in order to make room for Nolan McLean, who will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday against the Mariners. It's difficult to envision another team assuming the money remaining on Blackburn's $4.05 million deal for 2025, so he'll most likely go unclaimed off waivers.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Activated from IL
Rotowire
The Mets activated Blackburn (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Blackburn has made five rehab starts and built up to 97 pitches in his most recent outing last Friday. His return comes at a time of need after manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that Frankie Montas is moving to the bullpen permanently. It's been reported by Andy Martino of SNY.tv that Nolan McLean is expected to be tapped to start in his MLB debut Saturday against the Mariners, but Blackburn also appears ready to rejoin New York's rotation. For now, though, he's likely to be available out of the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Making another rehab start
Rotowire
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Blackburn (shoulder) will make another rehab start Friday, Joe Pantorno of amNY.com reports.
Blackburn looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list, having collected a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts. However, the Mets aren't ready to remove Frankie Montas from the rotation at this point, so they'll kick the can down the road and have Blackburn make another rehab start. Blackburn has been out since early July with a right shoulder impingement.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Completes fourth rehab start
Rotowire
Blackburn (shoulder) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.
Blackburn has now compiled a 2.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB in 20.1 innings over four rehab starts between stops with Syracuse and the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He's been on the shelf since July 3 due to a right shoulder impingement but has been fully stretched out for over a week now, as he built up to 87 pitches in his previous rehab start before tossing 93 on Saturday. His delayed activation from the 15-day injured list seems to be a result of the Mets buying some time to decide whether he'll be part of the rotation or bullpen upon his return, and Blackburn's odds of returning as a starter may have increased after Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Giants. Frankie Montas was battered for seven earned runs in four innings in the loss and now holds a 6.68 ERA over seven starts on the season, perhaps putting him at risk of losing his spot in the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Ready for activation
Rotowire
Blackburn (shoulder) threw 87 pitches (56 strikes) for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out six.
The veteran righty has looked good on his rehab stint, and over two appearances for Syracuse he's posted an 11:2 K:BB in 11.1 innings with a 1.59 ERA. While the Mets have Blackburn stretched out for a potential starting role, there doesn't appear to be room for him in the big-league rotation at the moment, and the team won't need a sixth starter until the second half of August due to frequent off days. Frankie Montas could get bumped to a long-relief role, but Blackburn is the more likely candidate to move to the bullpen once he gets activated.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Ticketed for rehab stint
Rotowire
Blackburn (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday before beginning a rehab assignment at Single-A Port St. Lucie after the All-Star break, MLB.com reports.
With Kodai Senga rejoining the rotation Friday and Sean Manaea (elbow/oblique) expected back Sunday, the Mets don't need to rush Blackburn back to patch over holes in the rotation. The 31-year-old right-hander should still be ready to come off the IL in late July, but it will likely be in a long-relief role.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The Mets placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday, due to a right shoulder impingement.
Blackburn wasn't able to make it past the first inning of his last start -- partially because he had to sit for 89 minutes during a rain delay before coming out for the second frame, during which he allowed three runs on five consecutive hits. He also seems to have also come away from that outing with a shoulder injury, which will cause him to remain on the injured list through the All-Star break. He'll be joined on the IL by Dedniel Nunez (elbow), and the Mets will bring up Justin Hagenman and Rico Garcia to fill the openings on their pitching staff.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Settles in after rough first inning
Rotowire
Blackburn (0-1) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against Atlanta, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out two.
Blackburn wasn't fully stretched out in his second start of the season, as he was pulled after throwing 73 pitches, but he managed to settle in following Atlanta's three-run first frame. The Mets will likely need the veteran right-hander for at least one more start, with Kodai Senga (hamstring), Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) all still sitting on the injured list. Blackburn's next turn in the Mets' rotation lines up for a rematch versus Atlanta next week, when he'll carry a 6.94 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB through his first 13 innings of the year.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Notches four-inning save
Rotowire
Blackburn gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings Sunday to record his first career save in a rout of the Rockies.
The veteran righty took the mound to begin the sixth inning with the Mets ahead 7-2, and they only extended their lead from there. Blackburn tossed 71 pitches (47 strikes) in his second appearance of the season, which will likely leave him unavailable for long-relief duties during a three-game set against the Nationals to begin the current week.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Impressive in season debut
Rotowire
Blackburn pitched five scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out three batters.
Blackburn was activated from the injured list Monday afternoon after missing over two months to begin the campaign due to a knee injury. The veteran right-hander faced a tough task on the road against one of the league's top offenses, but he shined with five scoreless frames during which he didn't allow any extra-base hits. Blackburn was in line for the win upon his departure, but the game ended up going to an extra frame after Edwin Diaz blew a save chance in the ninth frame. Blackburn was able to toss 77 pitches (49 strikes) in his season debut, so his limitations weren't major despite the extended time off. He's lined up to face the Rockies in Colorado in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Reinstated from 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Mets activated Blackburn (knee) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Blackburn is set to start Monday's game against the Dodgers in what will be his season debut for the Mets after he recovered from right knee inflammation. The veteran right-hander will be part of a six-man rotation for at least this week.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Joining rotation Monday
Rotowire
Blackburn (knee) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list to start Monday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Blackburn has been on the shelf all season while recovering from right knee inflammation, but he appears to be healthy again after completing a lengthy rehab assignment. He was especially effective over his most recent two outings at Triple-A Syracuse, covering 13.1 innings between those starts while striking out 10 and allowing two earned runs on five hits and four walks. The Mets will expand their rotation to six men to make room for Blackburn, but neither manager Carlos Mendoza nor president of baseball operations Davi Stearns were willing to say whether the six-man setup would continue beyond this week, per Garrett Stepien of SNY.tv. With that in mind, how Blackburn performs in a tough road matchup with the Dodgers could go a long way in determining whether he'll be in store for additional starts.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Targeting June 3 season debut
Rotowire
Blackburn (knee) is expected to make one more rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse before making his season debut for the Mets the following Monday against the Dodgers, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old right-hander has been sharp over three starts for Syracuse, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 13.2 innings, but the Mets have delayed activating Blackburn from the IL until they had a need in the rotation. That need arrives this weekend, when the team plays 10 straight games without an off day beginning May 30. It's not clear if New York will stick with a six-man rotation after that stretch, or if Blackburn will then shift into a long relief role.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Next rehab start set
Rotowire
Blackburn (knee) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Blackburn was scratched from his second rehab start in late April due to an illness, but he's since made two appearances in the minors. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits with a 5:1 K:BB over 3.2 frames in his last outing with Syracuse, and he'll continue building up his workload Sunday. Blackburn was unable to earn a rotation spot during spring training and was poised to begin the campaign in a relief role before the knee inflammation surfaced, so a spot in the bullpen likely awaits once he's cleared to be reinstated.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Goes on IL with knee injury
Rotowire
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Wednesday that Blackburn will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to right knee inflammation, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Blackburn's surgically repaired back held up fine this spring, but he'll be shelved to begin the season with a different injury. The right-hander will be shut down for 7-to-10 days but is expected back before the end of April. Blackburn had been slated for a long-relief role before the injury.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Still in rotation mix
Rotowire
Blackburn gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He failed to strike out a batter.
While his final line was sketchy, Blackburn blanked the Nats through two innings before running out of gas in the third and serving up homers to CJ Abrams and James Wood. The right-hander appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the Opening Day rotation even with Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) sidelined to begin the season, but with the Mets planning to deploy a six-man rotation somewhat liberally in 2025, Blackburn should get starting opportunities over the summer.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Paul Blackburn: Bumpy outing Sunday
Rotowire
Blackburn gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He failed to strike out a batter.
After tossing a scoreless inning in his spring debut last week, Blackburn ran into trouble against a Boston lineup that featured most of its likely Opening Day starters. The 31-year-old right-hander is competing in camp for a spot at the back of the Mets' injury-plagued rotation, but Blackburn will need better performances than this to climb over Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning on the depth chart.
