| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 28 2025 | Blackburn (0-3) took the loss against the Pirates on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two in one inning. He did not issue a walk. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn logged both of his strikeouts in the first inning, and the Mets opted to stick with the 31-year-old for the second following an 89-minute rain delay. That turned out to be the wrong move, as he proceeded to issue five-straight singles before being lifted for Jose Butto without recording an out in the frame. Blackburn ended up tossing only 33 pitches (21 strikes), and it was the second time this season that he has not made it past two innings in a start. His outing inflated his stats to a 7.71 ERA and 1.98 WHIP across 18.2 innings, and he'll look to bounce back against the Brewers next week at home. |
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| Jun 23 2025 | Blackburn (0-2) yielded three runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings Monday, striking out five and taking a loss against Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn gave up a run in the second inning, followed by two in the third, including a solo shot by Ronald Acuna. It was Blackburn's second straight loss and he failed to complete five innings in either of those outings. After tossing five scoreless frames in his season debut, he's been tagged with 14 runs (13 earned) over his last 12.2 innings, resulting in a 6.62 ERA. On the bright side, he generated a season-high 14 whiffs Monday. Blackburn is currently slated to take the mound in Pittsburgh this weekend. |
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| Jun 18 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 14 2025 | Blackburn retired one batter and was charged with four earned runs on four hits in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Prior to the contest, manager Carlos Mendoza told Mike Puma of the New York Post that Blackburn would enter the rotation Wednesday in Atlanta in place of the injured Kodai Senga (hamstring), but the Mets still elected to make Blackburn available out of the bullpen for one more game. He replaced starter Clay Holmes to begin the sixth inning and promptly squandered the Mets' 5-1 lead. Despite the poor showing, Blackburn's rotation spot appears safe for at least one turn after Frankie Montas (lat) had a rough rehab start at Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, but the fact that the duo are on the same schedule means a switch could happen at any time. |
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| Jun 13 2025 | Blackburn will step into the rotation and start Wednesday's game against Atlanta in place of Kodai Senga (hamstring), Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, opening a spot in the rotation for Blackburn on Wednesday with the potential for a handful of starts, depending on when Frankie Montas (lat) is ready to go. After a lengthy IL stint to start 2025, Blackburn has pitched nine innings in his two MLB appearances, allowing three runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He threw 71 pitches in his most recent outing. |
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| Jun 9 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 3 2025 | Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Blackburn is likely to move into a relief role after the right-hander started in Monday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Dodgers, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets opted to go with a six-man rotation this week featuring Blackburn, who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Monday's contest to make his 2025 debut with the big club. Despite missing more than two months of action due to right knee inflammation, Blackburn was effective in his start, striking out three batters while scattering three hits and one walk over five scoreless innings. The performance apparently won't be enough to compel the Mets to keep Blackburn around in the rotation, as off days the next two Mondays will create a built-in rest day for each for the team's five starters and will lessen the need for a sixth starter. The Mets have a stretch of 13 games in 13 days from June 17 through June 29 in which they could look to add a sixth starter back into the mix, but Frankie Montas (lat) could be ready to return from the 60-day IL by then and may be prioritized over Blackburn. |
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| Jun 2 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 31 2025 | Blackburn (knee) is expected to come off the 15-day injured list to start against the Dodgers on Monday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn is in the final stages of his recovery from right knee inflammation, which caused him to land on the 15-day IL at the start of the season. He's posted a 3.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 29.1 minor-league innings during his rehab assignment. It's unclear whether Blackburn will have a consistent role in the Mets' rotation after Monday's start. |
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| May 30 2025 | Blackburn (knee) will most likely come off the injured list for a spot start next week against the Dodgers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Given that Blackburn's most recent rehab start (6.1 innings) was Wednesday, it would make sense for him to start either Monday or Tuesday in Los Angeles. He has a 2.55 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB in 17.2 innings over his last three rehab starts. |
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| May 26 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 23 2025 | Blackburn (knee) will make his final rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn threw seven scoreless innings in his last rehab start and is set to make his last minor-league outing Tuesday. There isn't a clear spot for Blackburn in the Mets' rotation, so he's likely to join the bullpen as a long reliever once activated from the 15-day injured list. |
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| May 15 2025 | Blackburn (knee) is expected to make two more rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Joe Pantorno of AMNY.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn reached 60 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday and is aiming for the 75-pitch mark Friday with Double-A Binghamton. He's expected to make an additional rehab start after that. There doesn't appear to currently be room for Blackburn in the Mets' rotation, so he could be slotted into long relief when he's activated later this month. Blackburn has been out all season with right knee inflammation. |
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| May 9 2025 | Blackburn (knee) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 15 2025 | Blackburn (knee) is scheduled to throw two innings in a live batting practice session Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn checked out fine after throwing a one-inning live BP session in Brooklyn on Friday, prompting the Mets to clear him to repeat the activity while increasing his pitch count. If all goes well Tuesday, Blackburn will then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the goal is to have Blackburn build up to around 65-to-70 pitches before coming off the 15-day injured list, so the right-hander will likely be in line for at least two starts on the farm. |
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| Mar 26 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 23 2025 | Blackburn is expected to start the season working as a reliever, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets dealt with some injuries to their starting rotation during spring training, but Blackburn was unable to take advantage of the opportunity with eight earned runs allowed and a 9:6 K:BB over 12.2 frames in the Grapefruit League. Blackburn could still make some starts at some point this summer, but it doesn't seem like he'll be a consistent rotation piece for New York. |
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| Mar 8 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 3 2025 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 26 2025 | Blackburn (back) is scheduled to start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will most likely be limited to one or two innings in his spring debut as he attempts to make his case for a spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation. With Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) both expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Mets should have at least two spots available at the back of the rotation for Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. All three could end up breaking camp in starting roles if the Mets opt to go with a six-man rotation, something that president of baseball operations David Stearns said over the winter that he was expecting the team to implement in 2025. |
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| Feb 24 2025 | Blackburn (back) may be ticketed for a spot in the Opening Day rotation if Sean Manaea (oblique) begins the season on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will need to prove that he's healthy himself, of course, but Frankie Montas (lat) was already expected to be sidelined into May, so the Mets' rotation depth is being tested early. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are the only locks for starting jobs right now, with Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill competing for the remaining spots, but if New York sticks with its plan to use a six-man rotation, there would be room for all three. The Mets have three off days in the first 15 days of their schedule however, so they could delay those plans until mid-April. Blackburn underwent spinal surgery in October, but he's throwing live batting practice sessions in camp and is on track to be ready for Opening Day. |
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| Feb 20 2025 | Blackburn (back) threw one inning of live batting practice Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of NorthJersey.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn worked with the Mets this offseason to refine his sinker and sweeper with the goal of adding more run to his sinker and more horizontal movement to his sweeper to make it less of a slurve. He got off to a rough start with the Mets after getting traded from the A's last season, including a hand contusion and a spinal fluid leak in mid-September that ended his season. He had surgery Oct. 11 that came with a three-to-five month estimated recovery, and we'll be at five months in mid-March. Blackburn is understandably a little behind the likes of Tylor Megill, who is reportedly furthest along of Blackburn and Griffin Canning, all of whom are competing for the final two spots in the Mets' six-man rotation. |
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| Feb 15 2025 | Blackburn (back) is a little behind the Mets' other rotation options at the start of spring training, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is no real surprise, as Blackburn underwent spinal surgery in October. The 31-year-old right-hander made only five starts for the Mets in 2024 after being acquired from the A's, stumbling to a 5.18 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB in 24.1 innings, and he's never thrown more than 111.1 innings in a big-league season. If he demonstrates he's fully recovered from the surgery and back to his pre-injury form, Blackburn should compete for the No. 6 starter role alongside Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill. |
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| Jan 9 2025 | The Mets and Blackburn (back) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was eligible for arbitration for the third and final time. The veteran right-hander is recovering from back surgery but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. However, it appears unlikely at this juncture that there will be room for him in the Mets' rotation. |
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| Dec 9 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Oct 22 2024 | Blackburn underwent surgery Oct. 11 to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Oct 5 2024 | Blackburn (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, per MLB's transaction log. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Oct 2 2024 | Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesdaythat Blackburn (back) won't pitch at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 18 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 14 2024 | President of baseball operations David Stearns said Saturday that Blackburn has a spinal fluid leak in his back, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 10 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 9 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 7 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Sep 4 2024 | Blackburn (hand) will rejoin the Mets' rotation early next week in Toronto, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The exact date of his return is uncertain, but Blackburn has been cleared to make his next start in the majors after tossing 6.2 innings of one-run ball in a rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. He's been out since late August with a right hand contusion. |
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| Aug 25 2024 | The Mets placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Sunday, retroactive to Aug. 24, due to a right hand contusion. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander suffered the injury during his start against the Padres on Friday, but he appeared set to avoid a stint on the injured list after a CT scan came back negative Saturday. However, Blackburn experienced some stiffness and soreness when he attempted to throw Sunday, per Tim Healey of Newsday, and the Mets are hoping he can return after a minimum-length stay on the IL. Tylor Megill is the likely candidate to fill Blackburn's spot in the starting rotation. |
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| Aug 24 2024 | A CT scan on Blackburn's right hand came back negative Saturday, and he hopes to avoid the injured list and possible make his next start,Tim Healey of Newsday reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was hit in the hand by a comebacker Friday and Saturday's testing confirmed he's dealing with nothing more than a bruise. The right-hander is hopeful to not only avoid the injured list, but to be healthy enough to make his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Diamondbacks on Thursday. |
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| Aug 23 2024 | Blackburn was diagnosed with a right hand contusion after getting hit by a comebacker during Friday's game against San Diego. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For now, it appears Blackburn was able to avoid 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 on Thursday in Arizona. |
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| Aug 18 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Aug 14 2024 | Blackburn (5-3) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks over four innings as the Mets fell 9-4 to the A's. He struck out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After two quality starts in his first two outings for the Mets following a trade from Oakland, Blackburn ran into trouble against his former squad, with the big blow against him being a three-run homer in the third inning by former batterymate Shea Langeliers. Blackburn exited after 82 pitches (48 strikes), and Tuesday's stumble has left him with a 4.43 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 54:20 K:BB through 67 innings on the season. The veteran righty will look to bounce back in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Marlins. |
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| Aug 13 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Aug 8 2024 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision in a win over the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks over six innings while striking out six. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn gave up one run in the opening frame after surrendering a leadoff single to start things off, but he settled in nicely from that point on, allowing just one unearned run over the next five innings. It marked the right-hander's second quality start in a row since being traded to the Mets last month, and he's also recorded six strikeouts in each of those outings. Furthermore, Blackburn has allowed just one earned run in three of his last five starts (dating back to May 5), going 3-1 over that interrupted stretch. |
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| Aug 2 2024 | Blackburn (5-2) picked up the win Friday against the Angels, allowing one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two batters. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn worked in and out of trouble in his first start with the Mets, needing two separate inning-ending double plays to get through six frames while giving up just one run. The veteran recently came off the IL and showed enough in his first start back with Oakland for the Mets to trade for him, and he quickly rewarded their efforts. Blackburn has quality starts in five of his 10 outings this season and will carry a 4.11 ERA into a matchup against the Rockies next week. |
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| Jul 31 2024 | Blackburn is scheduled to make his first start for the Mets on Friday against the Angels in Anaheim, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jul 30 2024 | The Mets acquired Blackburn from the Athletics on Tuesday in exchange for Kade Morris, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets have been on the lookout for rotation reinforcements and have found one in Blackburn. The right-hander just recently returned from a stress reaction in his right foot, allowing four runs over five innings in his first start back. Overall, Blackburn has posted a 4.41 ERA and 38:14 K:BB over 51 frames covering nine starts in 2024. He's also under team control for 2025. |
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| Jul 26 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, finishing with 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 continue to have modest workload restrictions over his next one or two starts. He's projected for a challenging home outing against the Dodgers next week. |
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| Jul 20 2024 | Blackburn (foot) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Salt Lake on Saturday night and was charged with the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn bumped up his rehab assignment to Triple-A after making his first two appearances with Single-A Stockton, and the results were about as concerning as his final line implies. The right-hander immediately got off on the wrong foot by allowing a leadoff homer to MLB veteran Jake Marisnick, who also got to Blackburn for an RBI double in the third inning. In all, Blackburn worked up to 49 pitches, but he located only 26 for strikes. Given he's been ineffective in two of his first rehab appearances, Blackburn appears set to make at least a couple more starts with an affiliate in an effort to build up some confidence ahead of activation. |
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| Jul 15 2024 | Blackburn (foot) worked two-thirds of an inning in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sugar Land on Sunday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout. He also hit a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn's busy outing featured 23 pitches due to his subpar control, with the right-hander locating 14 of those offerings for strikes. Blackburn 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 the Aviators 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, including a potential start. |
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| Jul 11 2024 | Blackburn (foot) will remain with Single-A Stockton for his next rehab appearance, which will take place Sunday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jul 9 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jul 6 2024 | Blackburn (foot) will throw a bullpen session Saturday and then report to Single-A Stockton to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jul 4 2024 | Blackburn (foot) threw live batting practice before Wednesday's game against the Angels, the Associated Press reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jul 1 2024 | Blackburn (foot) is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ross Stripling (elbow) is set to do the same Wednesday, as both hurlers look to be in the same spot in their respective rehab programs. Given that Stripling has been on the injured list since May 25 while Blackburn was deactivated May 13, the latter pitcher could need more time to get fully stretched back out during an eventual minor-league rehab assignment. The Athletics will likely determine whether either or both of Stripling or Blackburn are ready to report to an affiliate based on how they fare during their live sessions Wednesday. |
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| Jun 27 2024 | Blackburn (foot) threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Angel Stadium and is set to complete another one Saturday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jun 18 2024 | Blackburn (foot) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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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| Jun 10 2024 | Blackburn (foot) has shed his walking boot and is expected to begin a throwing program this week, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although the right-hander remains without a timetable for return, this news is naturally encouraging. Blackburn isn't expected back before the All-Star break, considering he may need a full-length rehab assignment whenever he reaches that stage of his recovery. |
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| Jun 4 2024 | The Athletics transferred Blackburn (foot) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 30 2024 | Blackburn (foot) remains in a walking boot and will likely be reevaluated when the Athletics return to begin their next homestand Tuesday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander appears to still be some time away from returning if this latest report is any indication, considering he'll need to presumably go through at least a throwing progression that includes multiple bullpen sessions before being considered for activation. Blackburn's placement on the injured list is retroactive to May 11, but at this point, he appears to be tracking for a mid-June return at the earliest. |
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| May 13 2024 | The Athletics placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Monday with a stress reaction of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be in a walking boot for at least two weeks, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, so Blackburn is set tio require more than a minimum-length stay on the IL. Blackburn had been in line to start Thursday in Houston but will now need to be replaced in the rotation, with recent Triple-A Las Vegas call-up Joey Estes making sense as an alternative. |
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| May 10 2024 | Blackburn (3-2) took the loss Friday versus the Mariners, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over four-plus innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn cruised through the Mariners' lineup once, but couldn't do it a second time. He ran into trouble in the fourth inning and allowed three straight batters to reach to begin the fifth before Tyler Ferguson was brought on in relief. This is the second time in three outings Blackburn has been tagged for crooked numbers, and it's concerning this one came against an offense as pedestrian as Seattle. Blackburn has a 4.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB through 46 innings across eight starts this season. The right-hander is lined up to make his next start on the road in Houston. |
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| May 4 2024 | Blackburn (3-1) registered the win Saturday against the Marlins, yielding just one run on four hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was perfect through the first three innings and then really got to put it on cruise control after the Athletics offense spotted him a 12-0 lead. A leadoff home run by Nick Fortes in the sixth inning represented the only scoring off Blackburn. It's a nice bounce-back performance from the veteran right-hander after he allowed 13 runs over his previous three outings. Blackburn is slated to take on the Mariners in Seattle next. |
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| Apr 28 2024 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision during Sunday's 7-6 win over the Orioles, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk over four innings. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was lit up by the Orioles, allowing four extra-base hits, including three home runs. He was on the hook for his second loss until the A's salvaged the come-from-behind win. Following a flawless start to the season that saw him allow no earned runs spanning 19.1 innings through his first three starts, Blackburn has progressively regressed over his next three starts, allowing 13 runs over that 15.2 inning stretch. He'll look to right the ship during his next start, tentatively slated to take place next weekend when the Miami Marlins come to Oakland for a three-game set. |
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| Apr 24 2024 | Blackburn (2-1) took the loss Tuesday as the A's fell 4-3 to the Yankees, giving up four runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out five without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old righty's command was a little off in the first inning, and New York made him pay with four runs, including a two-run homer by Anthony Rizzo -- the first long ball Blackburn has served up this season. He kept his focus and shut the Yankees down the rest of the way, but the A's couldn't close the gap. Blackburn threw 98 pitches (63 strikes) before exiting, and he'll take a 2.03 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB through 31 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Baltimore. |
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| Apr 18 2024 | Blackburn (2-0) allowed three runs on six hits and five walks over 5.2 innings in a win over the Cardinals on Wednesday. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn struggled with his command out of the gate, surrendering a leadoff single to open the game before walking two batters in the first inning. He then went 1-2-3 through the next two innings, even striking out the side in the second, but was tagged for three runs in the fourth after allowing three consecutive hits to begin the frame. The right-hander had not allowed a run through his first three starts coming into Wednesday's matchup, while it also marked the first time this season in which he failed to make it through at least six innings. Blackburn also recorded a season-high seven strikeouts in the win and currently holds a 1.08 ERA on the season, though he's now issued seven walks over his last two starts. |
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| Apr 12 2024 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision Friday against the Nationals, pitching 6.1 scoreless innings while allowing five hits and two walks. He struck out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With his 6.1 shutout innings Friday night, Blackburn added to his impressive beginning of the season. He now has thrown 19.1 consecutive innings without allowing a run over his first three starts. The 30-year-old right-hander's zero ERA has come along with a 0.72 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB. Blackburn's next start is scheduled to be against the Cardinals at home. |
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| Apr 6 2024 | Blackburn (1-0) picked up the win Saturday against the Tigers, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory. He struck out four without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran righty didn't allow a runner to get past second base as he fired 59 of 85 pitches for strikes. Blackburn has a pristine 0.00 ERA through 13 innings with a 7:1 K:BB, delivering two straight quality starts to begin his 2024 campaign. While he's been impressive so far, his hot streak may not last too much longer considering he hasn't posted an ERA below 4.28 since his 10-start debut in 2017. Blackburn does line up for a favorable matchup in his next start however, at home against the Nationals next weekend. |
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| Mar 31 2024 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision Sunday versus the Guardians, throwing seven scoreless innings on three hits and a walk. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was excellent in his first start of the season, retiring his first 12 batters and giving up no extra-base hits. He got out of a jam in the fifth inning, getting Gabriel Arias to fly out with the bases loaded. Despite the impressive outing, Blackburn didn't get the win after the Athletics bullpen surrendered three runs on three hits, a hit-by-pitch and a fielding error in the eighth frame. Blackburn will have an opportunity to build on his scoreless debut with tentative matchups against the Tigers and Nationals scheduled for his next two starts. |
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| Mar 21 2024 | Blackburn fired six no-hit innings against the Cubs in a Cactus League win Wednesday, allowing one walk and recording three strikeouts. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander was in prime form, with Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reporting Blackburn needed only 63 pitches to get through his six frames and faced the minimum number of hitters. Additionally, 15 of Blackburn's outs were recorded on four pitches or less, and he lowered his spring ERA to 2.84 with the nearly pristine outing. |
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| Feb 28 2024 | Blackburn (1-0) was credited with the victory in the Athletics' Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on a solo home run and recording three strikeouts over two innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Outside of the one mistake pitch that led to a J.D. Davis solo home run, Blackburn was very effective while placing 22 of his 33 offerings in the strike zone, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The right-hander posted just a 4-7 record across 21 appearances (20 starts) last season, but that underwhelming mark was accompanied by a serviceable 4.43 ERA. Blackburn, who avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $3.45 million deal this winter, is expected to helm Oakland's starting rotation. |
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| Jan 11 2024 | Blackburn agreed to a one-year, $3.45 million contract with Oakland on Thursday, avoiding arbitration. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will remain Oakland's highest-paid pitcher. The 30-year-old righty has made 20-plus starts in back-to-back seasons and is useable in deeper leagues as a home streamer against teams like the Angels. He had a 3.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 53 innings at home last season. |
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| Sep 26 2023 | Blackburn (4-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks over three innings against Minnesota. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn tied his season high in walks Tuesday while also posting his most runs allowed since July. Because of his struggles, Blackburn was yanked at just 77 pitches and failed to make it into the fourth frame. With the regular season winding down and the A's long eliminated from the playoffs, Tuesday's start will likely be Blackburn's last of 2023. If that's the case, he'll finish his seventh MLB season with a 4.43 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP and a 104:43 K:BB across 103.2 innings. |
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| Sep 19 2023 | Blackburn (4-6) took the loss Tuesday versus the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn turned in a fine outing, but the Athletics couldn't get any runs on the board until the seventh inning. This was the first time in three starts Blackburn has completed five frames. The right-hander is now at a 4.11 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 101:39 K:BB through 100.2 innings over 20 outings (19 starts) this season. Blackburn is tentatively lined up for a road start versus the Twins next week, assuming the Athletics stick to the plan for a six-man rotation for the remainder of this week. |
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| Sep 13 2023 | Blackburn (4-5) took the loss against Houston on Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two batters over three innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn struggled to get the ball over the plate in the outing, as only 36 of his 69 pitches went for strikes. The right-hander walked three batters, with the final two coming around to score on a Yordan Alvarez three-run homer in the third frame. This was the second straight three-inning start for Blackburn, who has allowed six runs on 10 hits with a 7:6 K:BB over six innings during that time. The recent ineffectiveness has pushed his season ERA up to 4.14, which is accompanied by a 1.54 WHIP and 97:38 K:BB over 95.2 frames. |
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| Sep 8 2023 | Blackburn allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over three innings in Friday's win over Texas. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn needed 87 pitches (43 strikes) to complete three innings in his inefficient outing. It was his shortest outing since July 9 after nine straight starts of at least five frames. He posted a 5.48 ERA over his first nine starts but has registered a 2.52 ERA over his last nine, lowering his season mark to 3.88. Blackburn is currently projected to start in Houston next week. |
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| Sep 2 2023 | Blackburn (4-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Angels. He struck out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn walked the first two batters he faced and needed 29 pitches to get through the first inning. The right-hander settled in nicely after that, however, allowing just three more hits and a walk over the next four frames while holding the Angels to one run. Blackburn has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, lowering his ERA to 3.81 on the season. On the downside, he's also issued multiple walks in four of his last six outings. |
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| Aug 27 2023 | Blackburn (3-4) allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to take the loss Sunday versus the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn gave up four or more runs for just the third time in his last eight starts. He didn't have enough run support to come close to a win in this outing. For the season, the right-hander has a 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 86:29 K:BB through 84.2 innings over 16 appearances (15 starts). He's projected for a home start versus the Angels his next time out. |
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| Aug 21 2023 | Blackburn allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Kansas City on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn exited the contest in line for his second straight win, but a late Royals rally saddled him with a no-decision. Nonetheless, the right-hander continued his late-summer surge -- over his past six outings, he's picked up four quality starts while posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 36:12 K:BB over 36 innings. The strikeouts are particularly intriguing, as Blackburn has registered a 9.2 K/9 this season after recording a paltry 6.0 K/9 over nearly 250 innings across his first five MLB campaigns. He's not the most exciting rotation piece in fantasy, but given the improved strikeout numbers and recent run of success, Blackburn is worth at least a look for managers in need of starting pitching. |
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| Aug 17 2023 | Blackburn (3-3) picked up the win in Wednesday's 8-0 victory over the Cardinals, allowing six hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his best performance of the season, Blackburn generated 33 called or swinging strikes on just 86 pitches, and he only ran into trouble in two frames -- he escaped a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the second, then Luken Baker got thrown out at home in the seventh on a one-out double. Since getting rocked by the Red Sox in his first outing after the All-Star break, Blackburn has been sharp, posting a 2.10 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB through 30 innings over his last five starts. He'll look to keep rolling when he next takes the mound, which is likely to come at home early next week against the Royals. |
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| Aug 12 2023 | Blackburn (2-3) took the loss Friday as the A's were downed 8-2 by the Nationals, giving up four runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While he wasn't hit all that hard -- only one of the hits off Blackburn, a Keibert Ruiz solo shot in the fifth inning, went for extra bases -- the veteran right-hander tossed only 60 of 103 pitches for strikes as he tied his season high in free passes. Blackburn has stumbled to a 5.19 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB in 34.2 innings over seven appearances (six starts) since the beginning of July, but he'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is likely to come next week in St. Louis. |
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| Aug 6 2023 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision in the Athletics' win over the Giants on Saturday, firing six scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and three walks. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander was pulled after 105 pitches, but there was plenty to be encouraged about from what was Blackburn's second straight quality start and third consecutive in which he surrendered two runs or fewer. After a delayed beginning to the season that saw him struggle to achieve start-to-start consistency over his first month-plus, Blackburn's current stretch of impressive work has seen him pitch to a 1-0 record, 1.56 ERA and 0.5 HR/9 across his last 17.1 innings. He lines up to next take the hill on the road against the Nationals during next weekend's interleague series. |
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| Jul 29 2023 | Blackburn (2-2) allowed two runs on nine hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win Saturday over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn matched his season high in giving up nine hits, but he was able to escape Colorado relatively unscathed. This was his second quality start of the season, and it was also the second time he's completed six frames. The right-hander trimmed his ERA to 4.83 with a 1.57 WHIP and 56:18 K:BB through 54 innings over 11 games (10 starts). He's tentatively projected for a home start versus the Giants next weekend. |
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| Jul 22 2023 | Blackburn allowed a run on five hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn gave up the opening run, an Alex Bregman solo home run, in the sixth inning, but Oakland was able to take the lead back in its half of the frame. It was a good bounce-back for Blackburn after he was tagged for six runs in his previous outing. He's still walked multiple batters in three of his last four appearances and carries a 49:18 K:BB with a 5.06 ERA and 1.58 WHIP through 48 innings this season. The right-hander is tentatively lined up for a challenging road start in Colorado next weekend. |
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| Jul 17 2023 | Blackburn (1-2) allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings, taking the loss Monday versus the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn's last outing was a relief appearance versus Boston before the All-Star break. He'll be happy to put the Red Sox in the rear-view mirror, as they've posted eight runs over 6.2 innings against him in those two outings. For the season, the right-hander is at a 5.48 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB through 42.2 innings over nine appearances (eight starts). He'll look to get back on track in a tough projected home start versus the Astros over the weekend. |
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| Jul 10 2023 | Blackburn (illness) was charged with a blown save in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk over one inning of relief. He struck out one. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being scratched from Saturday's start due to illness, Blackburn was afforded some relief work before the All-Star break and didn't fare well. The right-hander needed 39 pitches to get through his one frame, which started off on the wrong foot with a solo home run by Adam Duvall and eventually also included a game-tying Christian Arroyo RBI double. Blackburn will now have several days of rest before returning to action in his usual rotation role, and he'll be aiming to improve on the 5.73 ERA and 1.68 WHIP he's generated over the 22 innings covering his last five appearances (four starts). |
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| Jul 8 2023 | Blackburn was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against the Red Sox due to illness. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fact that Blackburn is dealing with an illness rather than an injury means he's probably not going to miss more than one start, but he'll miss at least one unless he's healthy enough to pitch Sunday and the A's elect to bump JP Sears. Austin Pruitt will be the first pitcher on the hill Saturday in Blackburn's absence. |
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| Jul 2 2023 | Blackburn (1-1) allowed five runs on six hits and four walks over five innings Sunday, striking out five and taking a loss against the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All five runs charged to Blackburn came during an ugly third inning. After issuing a total of four walks in his previous four starts, he walked a season-high four batters Sunday. He's allowed at least four runs in three of his first seven outings this season, resulting in a 4.50 ERA with a 40:12 K:BB through 36 frames. Blackburn's next outing is lined up to be in Boston. |
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| Jun 27 2023 | Blackburn (1-0) allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out five over 5.1 innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was able to limit the damage to a Josh Donaldson solo home run in the fifth inning. This was his first win in six starts since making his season debut after starting the year on the shelf with a finger injury. He's done a decent job of keeping offense down with a 3.77 ERA, though he has a 1.39 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB over 31 innings overall. Blackburn is lined up for a weekend start at home versus the White Sox. |
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| Jun 21 2023 | Blackburn allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over five innings in a no-decision against Cleveland on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was staked to an early four-run lead but couldn't hold it, giving up three runs in the third inning and another in the fourth. The right-hander ended up with his fifth straight no-decision after coming off the injured list to make his season debut May 29. Blackburn notched seven strikeouts Wednesday, continuing a surprising trend that has seen him tally 30 punchouts over 25.2 innings on the campaign. Prior to this season, he had never come close to averaging a strikeout per inning, topping out at a 7.2 K/9 last year. The improved strikeout ability and Blackburn's tolerable 4.21 ERA has given him some mild fantasy value, though he's unlikely to find himself in the win column very often given Oakland's standing as one of the league's worst offensive teams. |
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| Jun 15 2023 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out nine. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn got in a jam in the second inning after Harold Ramirez reached on a fielding error by Ryan Noda to lead things off. The right-hander then went on to cough up three straight hits, which brought two runs home, before uncharacteristically striking out the side - all swinging, to get out of the inning. He wasn't quite able to make it through six innings but still managed to post a season-high nine strikeouts on the afternoon en route to his fourth consecutive no-decision. He'll look to earn his first win of the season when the A's travel to Cleveland to take on the Guardians next week. |
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| Jun 11 2023 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk over six scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over Milwaukee. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn completed a season-high six innings and notched his first scoreless appearance of the year. The 29-year-old's 2023 debut was delayed due to a finger injury, so he's made only three starts thus far with mixed results. He held Atlanta's offense to just one run on four hits over four innings and struck out a season-high six, but he fell flat versus Miami, giving up five runs with a 3:2 K:BB across five innings, before his dominating outing versus Milwaukee on Saturday. Blackburn will look to make it back-to-back quality starts next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a four-game set versus Tampa Bay. |
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| Jun 4 2023 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings against the Marlins. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn held Miami to two runs through four innings before Garrett Cooper blasted a three-run homer in the fifth. Through his first two starts this season, Blackburn's allowed six runs on 11 hits with a 9:4 K:BB over nine innings and he's still looking for his first win. He's currently scheduled to face the Brewers in his next outing. |
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| May 29 2023 | Blackburn allowed one run on four hits and two walks over four innings during Monday's win over Atlanta. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn made his season debut Monday after posting a brutal 7.50 ERA through 18 minor-league rehab innings. After allowing a run in the first inning, he settled in for a strong outing, though he needed 81 pitches to get through four frames. Blackburn forced 12 whiffs, which would tie the second-highest total he produced during the 2022 season. The 29-year-old righty is projected to start in Miami this weekend. |
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| May 27 2023 | Blackburn (finger) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut in a start Monday against Atlanta, Alex Espinoza of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander will make his long-awaited first turn of 2023 after overcoming a cracked fingernail and subsequent blister, as well as numerous rocky rehab outings. Blackburn finally appeared to find his footing in a five-inning start for Triple-A Las Vegas against Tacoma on Wednesday, allowing just an earned run over five innings while recording five strikeouts. Blackburn followed it up with a setback-free 25-pitch bullpen session Friday, teeing up Monday's debut. With the 2022 All-Star having worked up to 73 pitches in that most recent appearance for the Aviators, Blackburn shouldn't be on too restrictive a pitch count versus Atlanta. |
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| May 21 2023 | Blackburn (finger), who allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk while recording one strikeout over 3.2 innings in his most recent rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, will toe the rubber for the Aviators again Wednesday, the team's official site reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn hasn't inspired any confidence during his time down on the farm, as he's pitched to a 9.69 ERA across 13 innings over five starts between Single-A Stockton and Las Vegas. The right-hander, a 2022 All-Star selection, did come out of Friday's start without any finger-related issues, but it seems fairly clear the Athletics are more concerned about his string of poor performances at the moment and therefore are affording him at least one more opportunity work out the kinks. |
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| May 16 2023 | Blackburn (finger) is slated to make another rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas later in the week, the Associated Press reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a blister and a subsequent brief paternity leave put Blackburn's rehab assignment on hold for just under a month, the right-hander returned to action with the Aviators on Sunday and surrendered four earned runs over two innings and 41 pitches. Nevertheless, manager Mark Kotsay noted he'd received positive reports regarding the outing and confirmed Monday that Blackburn will toe the rubber in the minors again later in the week. If there's an appreciable bump in pitch count and improved performance during that outing, Blackburn may be deemed ready for activation soon thereafter. |
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| May 15 2023 | Blackburn (finger) allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk over two innings during Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Albuquerque on Sunday. He struck out one. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn's return to the mound after an extended pause to his rehab assignment featured plenty of rust, as the right-hander was hit hard over 41 pitches. Blackburn was tagged for a pair of home runs by Coco Montes along the way, and he's now carrying a 9.64 ERA and 2.68 WHIP across 9.1 innings down on the farm. Given the 2022 All-Star's poor form in three of his four minor-league starts, it remains to be seen if the Athletics will want to see him turn in at least one confidence-building outing before he's deemed ready for activation. |
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| May 12 2023 | Blackburn (finger) threw a side session Thursday and is slated to work up to 45 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, the team's official site reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander recently returned from a short paternity absence and has also been on the mend from a blister that cut his last rehab start with the Aviators short back on April 16, leading to the postponement of his next outing. Blackburn is apparently ready to retake the mound as he inches closer to making his delayed 2023 season debut. |
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| May 6 2023 | Blackburn's (finger) scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday has been pushed back due to the impending birth of his child, the team's official site reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn had thrown all his pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday that apparently went well enough to garner him clearance to restart his rehab assignment, but his paternity leave will delay matters by a few more days. Manager Mark Kotsay noted the club will have a better feel for Blackburn's return timeline after his child's birth, and it's possible he makes at least two more starts with the Aviators before being deemed ready for activation. |
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| May 4 2023 | Blackburn (finger) threw all his pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The development is naturally an encouraging one for Blackburn after a scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas was postponed twice over a three-day period in late April due to a blister. Blackburn is expected to either throw another bullpen or finally restart his rehab assignment with another start for the Aviators in coming days. |
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| Apr 4 2023 | Blackburn (finger) will make a rehab start Friday for Low-A Stockton, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn said that his finger is "totally healed" so it's now about the right-hander building up his endurance to rejoin the Oakland rotation. He also noted that he'll join Triple-A Las Vegas after the rehab start -- assuming everything goes well -- and build up to five innings. There's a very good chance Blackburn is starting games for the A's before the end of April. |
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| Apr 3 2023 | Blackburn (finger) threw 40 pitches in Monday's side session, and will head to Low-A Stockton to begin a rehab assignment shortly, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander threw two "double up" sessions while throwing 20 in each. Blackburn is currently on the injured list with a right middle fingernail avulsion. It's possible that he will need to make multiple rehab starts because he hasn't been on the mound since early in March, but Blackburn should be able to rejoin the Oakland rotation by the end of April if there are no setbacks. |
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| Mar 30 2023 | Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Athletics on Thursday with a right middle fingernail avulsion. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn returned to throwing off a mound a few days ago and might not miss much time. With the right-hander sidelined, the A's are rolling with youngster Kyle Muller on Opening Day. |
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| Mar 26 2023 | Blackburn (finger) is slated to throw off a mound Monday after his flat-ground session Thursday went well, the team's official site reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Mark Kotsay noted that Blackburn was able to spin some curveballs during the flat-ground session without issue. Consequently, Monday's activity is considered the next step in the natural progression of his recovery. If the right-hander emerges from Monday's session without setbacks, a firmer regular-season debut date could come into focus. |
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| Mar 17 2023 | Blackburn (finger) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn is dealing with a fingernail avulsion on his pitching hand. He is still able to play catch but has to wait for the injury to heal to do anything else, and evidently the Athletics anticipate that taking awhile. It's not clear at this point how long Blackburn might be sidelined. |
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| Mar 14 2023 | Blackburn might not be ready for Opening Day due to a fingernail avulsion on his pitching hand, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn is still able to play light catch, but he'll have to wait for the nail to heal before he can do anything else. The injury appears unrelated to the flexor tendon sheath tear in his right middle finger which ended his 2022 campaign. If healthy, Blackburn might be the Athletics' Opening Day starter. |
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| Mar 7 2023 | Blackburn, whose 2022 season ended in August due to a finger injury, has been working on refining his changeup this spring, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "It gives me another weapon," Blackburn said. "Going forward, being able to throw more changeups to righties will open up a cutter and curveball for me." | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was a first-time All-Star in 2022 despite seeing his career-best season cut short, but it's that injury that has partly inspired his desire to refine his changeup for more frequent use against right-handed hitters. Gallegos notes the physical limitations the right-hander had with respect to throwing all his pitches most of the offseason -- he was only able to use his fastball and changeup for an extended stretch -- led to him tinkering with the latter after only throwing it on 43 occasions during same-handed matchups in 2022. Blackburn didn't have much success with the offering in his first taste of game action since last August on Sunday against the Reds, however, with Blackburn noting a good number of his changeups went "straight into the ground" despite a couple of others prompting swings and misses. |
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| Feb 16 2023 | Blackburn (finger) enters spring training fully healthy after his 2022 season ended due to a tear of the flexor tendon sheath in his right middle finger, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "I feel really good right now," Blackburn said Wednesday, adding that he's been pain-free since beginning a throwing program two months ago. Blackburn made the All-Star team in 2022 after posting a 3.62 ERA in 18 first-half starts, but he really struggled in three second-half outings before the injury. The 29-year-old's fantasy ceiling is quite limited since he plays for the A's and doesn't get strikeouts, but he could still be a solid innings-eater if he stays healthy. |
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| Jan 13 2023 | Blackburn (finger) agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the A's on Friday to avoid arbitration, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn enjoyed a breakout early in 2022 with a 2.26 ERA through his first 13 starts, but he struggled after he suffered a finger injury in July before being shut down for the season. The 29-year-old should be healthy for the start of spring training and will open 2023 as a key piece in Oakland's rotation. |
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| Aug 20 2022 | Blackburn (finger) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His right middle finger will be in a splint for the next six weeks, so Blackburn's season is over. He was a great story in the first half of the season, but his production plummeted over his final eight starts (7.94 ERA), in part due to the finger discomfort he dealt with over his final four starts. Blackburn will be a key part of Oakland's rotation in 2023. |
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| Aug 16 2022 | Blackburn was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon sheath in his right middle finger Tuesday and will wear a splint for the next six weeks, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was ruled out for the rest of the season earlier Tuesday, and the specifics of the injury, which was previously diagnosed as inflammation, are now known. At this point the 29-year-old is expected to avoid surgery, but he will be re-evaluated in three weeks. Blackburn had a breakout during the first couple months of 2022 and finishes the campaign with a 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 89:30 K:BB across 111.1 innings. |
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| Aug 10 2022 | The Athletics placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with an inflamed right middle finger, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn had been scheduled to start Wednesday's series finale with the Angels, but the finger injury forced the Athletics to scrap those plans. The All-Star right-hander may been dealing with the issue for multiple starts, as he had posted an 8.79 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 14.1 innings in his three outings since making his first appearance in the Midsummer Classic. JP Sears, one of the players the Athletics acquired in last week's trade that sent Frankie Montas to the Yankees, was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas and could pick up a spot start Wednesday in Blackburn's stead. |
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| Aug 4 2022 | Blackburn (7-6) allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings to earn the win Thursday against the Angels. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn allowed a home run in each of the first four innings, yet he still managed to earn his seventh win of the season. He has had a significant problem with the long ball across his last eight starts, serving up 12 homers in only 39.2 innings. Unsurprisingly, he has an 8.04 ERA in that span. Overall, Blackburn has a 4.28 ERA with an 89:30 K:BB across 111.1 frames on the season. |
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| Jul 30 2022 | Blackburn registered a no-decision during Saturday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox, allowing five hits while striking out four in five scoreless innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn cruised through four easy frames and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the fifth to submit his second scoreless outing of July. With the top of Chicago's lineup due to bat a third time in the sixth, manager Mark Kotsay opted to pull the 28-year-old at 62 pitches, though Blackburn was effective by tossing 41 strikes with eight whiffs. Blackburn has compiled a 4.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 106.1 innings across 20 starts. He's scheduled to pitch again next weekend against San Francisco. |
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| Jul 24 2022 | Blackburn (6-6) allowed 10 runs on 10 hits and two walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn allowed four runs through the first four frames of Sunday's game, including three during the first inning. Things got worse from there as he gave up four runs in the fifth and was charged with two more while David McKay was on the mound. Blackburn posted a 2.26 ERA through his first 13 starts of the year, but over his last six outings, he's 0-4 with a brutal 9.40 ERA. The 28-year-old righty will look to turn things around on the road against the White Sox next week. |
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| Jul 14 2022 | Blackburn (6-5) took the loss against Texas on Wednesday, allowing five runs on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out four batters. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn didn't give up any extra-base hits in the contest, but Texas took advantage of his poor control to hand him the defeat. The right-hander threw only 55 of 101 pitches for strikes and issued four free passes -- the second most he's given up in a game this season. Three of the walks came in the first inning, when the Rangers scored all five of their runs against him. Blackburn started off the season incredibly strong, but he's begun to fade of late. Over his past six starts, he's posted a 6.46 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 30.2 innings. |
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| Jul 9 2022 | Blackburn (6-4) gave up six earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six over four-plus innings to take the loss in an 8-3 defeat to the Astros on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn got off to a very good start by facing the minimum number of batters through three innings and striking out five of them. However, he started to unravel when Alex Bregman went deep in the fourth. Blackburn wasn't able to right the ship and was pulled without having recorded an out in the fifth after another home run to Martin Maldonado. The 28-year-old right-hander began the season on a high note with a 2.15 ERA through the end of May, but he appears to be coming back down to earth after being shelled by the Astros and posting an ERA of 5.13 in June. Look for him to start next week at Texas. |
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| Jul 2 2022 | Blackburn pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against Seattle on Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn stranded three runners in scoring position over the first two innings before settling in and retiring 14 straight batters. The right-hander was pulled while ahead by a run with one out and one on in the seventh, but he had to settle for a no-decision when the Mariners tied the score in the following frame. This was Blackburn's first quality start since June 10 and only his second such performance over his past nine outings. He's slowed down a bit after a remarkable start to the campaign, but the veteran still has a strong 2.90 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 67:22 K:BB over 87 frames overall. |
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| Jun 27 2022 | Blackburn allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in Monday's loss to the Yankees. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was taken deep twice in Yankee Stadium on Monday with Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton each a ripping solo shot against the 28-year-old. After giving up just two home runs over an eight-game stretch, Blackburn has allowed four over his last two outings. He's also seen his ERA jump from 1.70 to 3.12 since May 30. Blackburn is expected to take the mound in Seattle this weekend. |
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| Jun 22 2022 | Blackburn (6-3) took the loss Wednesday versus the Mariners. He allowed seven runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out four in four-plus innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn allowed runs in each of the first three innings and then ran into a bunch of trouble in the fifth without recording an out. This was easily the worst start of the season for the right-hander, as he gave up season highs in hits and runs. Despite the stumble, he still has a 2.97 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB across 75.2 innings overall. Blackburn is projected to face an even tougher challenge next week in New York versus the Yankees. |
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| Jun 16 2022 | Blackburn (6-2) allowed a run on eight hits and two walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings to earn the win over the Red Sox on Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn has righted the ship over his last two starts, and he earned his first win since May 25 during Thursday's 4-3 victory. The right-hander has a lackluster 17.9 percent strikeout rate over his first 13 starts of the season, but he's posted a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP that would be the best marks of his career if the season ended today. Blackburn tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Mariners on Wednesday. |
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| Jun 11 2022 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision after pitching eight innings against the Guardians on Friday, allowing zero runs on four hits while striking out three and walking one. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was dominant for eight innings, throwing 65 of 101 pitches for strikes and picking up a quality start. He was pulled after leaving the eighth inning with a two-run lead, but reliever Dany Jimenez cost the team and Blackburn a win. The righty will take a 2.31 ERA into his next appearance, which is projected for next week in Boston. |
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| Jun 4 2022 | Blackburn (5-2) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in four innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn has now lost consecutive starts, and Saturday's was his shortest outing of the year. He was limited to 73 pitches (45 strikes) as the Red Sox rallied for four runs between the third and fourth innings. The right-hander's recent struggles have his ERA up to 2.62 with a 1.06 WHIP and a 44:14 K:BB through 58.1 innings across 11 starts. He's projected for a road start versus the Guardians next week. |
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| May 30 2022 | Blackburn (5-1) was charged with the loss Monday after he pitched 6.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out five versus the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn surrendered a solo home run to Yordan Alvarez in the top of the fourth and then three more runs in the fifth including a two-run homer by Jose Altuve. The four runs given up were a season high for the right-hander and the home runs were the first he's allowed since May 3, raising his total surrendered to three on the year. He had better strike zone command Monday, not walking a batter for the first time in four starts. The difficult outing raised Blackburn's season numbers to a still impressive 2.15 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 41 strikeouts over 54.1 innings. He tentatively lines up to pitch again Saturday against the Red Sox. |
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| May 26 2022 | Blackburn (5-0) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up one hit and five walks over 5.1 scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory over the Mariners. He struck out two. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was a rough showing for the right-hander, who managed to get only 45 of 81 pitches over the plate before exiting, but Seattle couldn't take advantage of all the extra traffic on the basepaths. Blackburn had issued just seven free passes in 42.1 innings coming into the start, so his loss of control doesn't seems like a serious issue for now. He'll take a 1.70 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36:12 K:BB into his next outing. |
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| May 21 2022 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision during Friday's 4-2 win over the Angels, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn had trouble with the top of the Los Angeles order, putting on a season-high eight baserunners and ultimately falling one out short of his fifth win. The 28-year-old walked two batters for the second straight start after issuing three free passes total through his first six turns. A 2.29 FIP confirms Blackburn's 1.91 ERA, and he ranks 12th in MLB with both an 0.99 ERA and 4.86 K/BB. He lines up to face Seattle next week. |
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| May 14 2022 | Blackburn gave up one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 6.2 innings in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn certainly pitched well enough to earn his fifth win of the season, but he didn't get the run support. It helped his cause that Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon began the contest on the bench. Blackburn now ranks fifth in the majors with a 1.67 ERA, behind Pablo Lopez, Nestor Cortes, Miles Mikolas and Justin Verlander. |
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| May 9 2022 | Blackburn (4-0) allowed four hits over 6.2 shutout innings, striking out three and earning a win over Detroit on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn allowed just one extra-base hit and never faced much danger against the struggling Tigers. The 28-year-old righty has now allowed two or fewer runs in five of six starts to begin the season. His 6.2 innings and 88 pitches thrown Monday were both season highs. Blackburn will carry an impressive 1.74 ERA into his projected matchup at home against the Angels this weekend. |
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| May 3 2022 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's 10-7 loss to Tampa Bay, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was staked to an early 5-1 lead but couldn't make it through the fifth inning and Oakland ended up blowing the sizeable lead anyway. This was the 28-year-old's worst start in five turns, as he permitted highs in runs and baserunners allowed along with lasting a low of 4.1 innings. He carries a 2.22 ERA and 0.95 WHIP into his next start, slated to come next week against Detroit. |
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| Apr 21 2022 | Blackburn (2-0) earned the win over Baltimore on Thursday, allowing one run and three hits while striking out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn lowered his ERA to 1.80 thanks to the solid outing, although his second win was in jeopardy after an offensive surge from the Orioles in the seventh and eighth inning. It wouldn't be the first time his bullpen betrayed him, as they cost him a win after five solid innings in his last appearance on the mound against the Rays. After looking like more of a desperation option in Oakland's rotation, Blackburn looks much better than his career averages might indicate. |
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| Apr 16 2022 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Blue Jays, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three without walking a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander was in line for the win, exiting after 73 pitches (47 strikes) with a 5-2 lead, but the A's bullpen coughed up the lead before Cristian Pache socked a game-winning homer in the top of the ninth inning. Blackburn has looked good in his first two turns through the rotation, posting a 1.80 ERA and 10:1 K:BB through 10 innings, giving him plenty of momentum heading into his next outing. |
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| Apr 11 2022 | Blackburn (1-0) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Monday, pitching five scoreless innings during which he allowed three runs and one walk while striking out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fact that Blackburn -- who entered the contest with a career 5.74 ERA -- was the starting pitcher who ended Tampa's season-opening three-game winning streak is improbable in itself, and his effectiveness in doing so is equally surprising. The right-hander racked up a career-high seven strikeouts after posting a K/9 below 7.0 in each of his previous MLB seasons during which he played more than one game. Whether this performance indicates a late-20s turnaround for Blackburn or is merely an aberration remains to be seen, but it is an excellent beginning to the campaign for the hurler. He'll look to build off the performance in his next start, which is tentatively slated to come Saturday in Toronto. |
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| Apr 9 2022 | Blackburn is scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday in Tampa Bay. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will be included in the Athletics' season-opening rotation less on merit than by virtue of being one of the few available starting options on the 40-man roster with James Kaprielian (shoulder) and Brent Honeywell (elbow) on the injured list and Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt having been traded away this spring. The 28-year-old Blackburn owns a 5.74 ERA and a minuscule 12.8 percent strikeout rate over 138 career big-league frames, and he didn't demonstrate any improvement in his 8.2 Cactus League innings this spring (9.35 ERA, 11.9 K%). Even with a two-start week on tap -- his second turn comes April 16 in Toronto -- Blackburn doesn't look like a usable fantasy option outside of AL-only leagues. |
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| Mar 31 2022 | Blackburn has allowed four earned runs on nine hits and two walks while recording three strikeouts across 5.2 innings in two Cactus League appearances. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn worked in relief in his Cactus League debut against the Angels back on March 18, and he drew the start versus Los Angeles on Monday and was able to log four frames in that outing. While he's given up a pair of earned runs in each trip to the mound thus far, Blackburn's ability to work multiple innings could allow him to stick on the Opening Day roster as a long reliever that can also serve as a spot starter in a rotation that could be in flux if the team decides to continue shedding payroll. |
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| Oct 3 2021 | Blackburn (1-4) was tagged with the loss Saturday against Houston after allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning two across two innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This wasn't a solid end of the season for the right-hander, who gave up a season-high six runs while also tossing his shortest outing of the campaign. Plus, the three home runs he gave up represents a season-high mark as well. Blackburn only made eight starts on the year but his numbers were not encouraging, as he ended the season with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP through 38.1 innings. |
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| Sep 26 2021 | Blackburn got a no-decision in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Astros, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with one strikeout in five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn didn't permit a runner past second base until the fifth inning, when he surrendered his only run on three straight two-out singles. The outing was only Blackburn's second allowing fewer than two runs in eight starts since the beginning of August, though he's yet to go six innings in any appearance. He projects to take the hill a final time against Houston next weekend. |
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| Sep 22 2021 | Blackburn (1-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out five across four innings, taking the loss to the Mariners on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn surrendered a three-run fourth inning that included a pair of triples, while it took him 83 pitches to get through four innings. The 27-year-old has a 5.17 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 31.1 innings this season, though he's done a good job in the walks department, giving up one or zero in five of his seven starts this season. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Astros. |
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| Sep 16 2021 | Blackburn (1-2) earned the win against Kansas City on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts across five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn scuffled in his previous two outings, allowing four runs in each while failing to get through four innings in either of them. He also got off to an auspicious start Thursday, giving up a two-run homer to Salvador Perez in the first inning, but he held the Royals off the board the rest of the way. The 27-year-old Blackburn owns a 4.94 ERA through six starts, posting an underwhelming 18:7 K:BB across 27.1 innings. He'll face the Mariners at home next week. |
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| Sep 10 2021 | Blackburn pitched 2.2 innings against Texas on Friday, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Oakland handed the right-hander a 6-1 lead after two innings, but Blackburn was unable to convert the offensive outburst into his first win since 2018. He was pulled after allowing the Rangers to get right back into the game with three runs in the third, giving up four hits in the frame. Blackburn enjoyed a strong three-start run in August during which he posted a 2.81 ERA, but he has since faltered, giving up eight runs over his past 6.1 innings. If he remains in the rotation, he'll likely face Kansas City on the road next week. |
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| Sep 4 2021 | Blackburn (0-2) allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out three in 3.2 innings, taking the loss versus Toronto on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On the bright side, he didn't walk a batter, but it didn't matter when he allowed Toronto to tee off for three home runs. Blackburn's outing Saturday was the shortest of his four starts this season. He's posted a 4.12 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB across 19.2 innings overall. The 27-year-old lines up for a more favorable start versus Texas in next weekend's three-game series. |
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| Aug 29 2021 | Blackburn got a no-decision in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Yankees, allowing five hits and a walk with one strikeout in five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was able to quiet New York's potent bats, working around a two-on one-out jam in the first and sailing through the remaining four innings. It took Blackburn only 72 pitches to go five innings and he was most likely pulled so he wouldn't face the lineup a third time through. The 27-year-old has delivered three solid outings since being recalled and is set to face Toronto next weekend. |
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| Aug 23 2021 | Blackburn didn't factor into the decision during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Mariners, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn limited Seattle to just three baserunners through the first five innings, but was dealt a big blow in the form of a Mitch Haniger two-run bomb in the sixth and departed with the score even at 2-2. The 27-year-old lines up to face the Yankees on Sunday and should remain in the rotation barring poor performance. |
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| Aug 20 2021 | Blackburn will likely make another start for the Athletics, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn made his 2021 debut Wednesday against the White Sox, and he was charged with the loss after he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three in 5.1 innings. Although the right-hander didn't fare particularly well, manager Bob Melvin said Blackburn threw a bullpen Friday and will likely make at least one more turn through the rotation. The 27-year-old tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Mariners on Monday. |
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| Aug 19 2021 | Blackburn (0-1) took the loss in a defeat at the hands of the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Wednesday and responded relatively well on the road in a daunting matchup. Two of the three runs Blackburn surrendered came on Luis Robert singles, and he didn't allow any balls to leave the park. Blackburn checked into his first majors stint of 2021 with 21 appearances (18 starts) under his belt at Triple-A, but those have largely been poor -- he forged a 5-7 record, 5.69 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in that span, making him a tenuous multi-start option in the absence of Chris Bassitt (face). |
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| Aug 18 2021 | Blackburn's contract was selected by the Athletics to start Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn began the season at Triple-A Las Vegas and posted a 4.97 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 88.2 innings across 17 appearances (16 starts). He hasn't fared particularly well in limited major-league action across the last two seasons, as he's recorded a 13.50 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 13.1 innings during five appearances (two starts) in the big leagues across the last two seasons. |
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| Sep 26 2020 | Blackburn (0-1) gave up seven runs on five hits and two walks and struck out two in 2.1 innings in a loss to the Mariners in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn was the 29th man for the doubleheader, and he wasn't able to deliver a positive start. That forced the bullpen to absorb 3.2 innings of play. Blackburn hadn't pitched in the majors since last September, and it's likely the right-hander will return to the alternate training site after Saturday's uninspiring effort. |
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| Sep 25 2020 | Blackburn will start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will return to the active roster Saturday after spending nearly a month at the Athletics' alternate training site. The right-hander failed to make an appearance during his first stint in the majors this year, but he'll make his season debut during Saturday's twin bill as Oakland prepares for the postseason. |
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| Aug 19 2020 | Blackburn was recalled from Oakland's alternate camp site Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn will provide the A's with a fresh bullpen arm after Tuesday's starter (Frankie Montas) recorded just five outs before exiting. The righty appeared in four games for the A's in 2019 and allowed 13 runs across 11 innings. James Kaprielian was optioned in a corresponding move. |
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| Sep 10 2019 | Blackburn did not factor into the decision in Monday's loss to the Astros but allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits, a walk and a wild pitch over five innings. He did not record any strikeouts. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander was forced into extended duty due to Mike Fiers' day ending after a 50-pitch, nine-run first inning. Blackburn took his share of lumps against a red-hot Astros offense as well, but he did manage to eat up some valuable innings and serve as a bridge to Lou Trivino, who came on in the seventh. Blackburn has made two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sept. 1 and sports a 9.00 ERA across his first six innings. |
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| Sep 6 2019 | Blackburn (0-2) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one, taking the loss in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Blackburn allowed a single to Dawel Lugo and an RBI double to Willi Castro to get stuck with the loss for the second time in as many major-league appearances this season. Blackburn is expected to serve out of the bullpen down the stretch this year. |
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| Sep 1 2019 | The Athletics recalled Blackburn from Triple-A Las Vegas ahead of Sunday's 5-4 loss | to the Yankees. |
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| Jul 5 2019 | Blackburn was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 22 2019 | Blackburn is a candidate to start Wednesday against the Cardinals, a game that would have represented Frankie Montas' (suspension) next turn in the rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 9 2019 | The Athletics optioned<\/a> Blackburn to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 8 2019 | Blackburn (0-1) gave up five runs over three innings as he took the loss in the first game of a doubleheader against Texas on Saturday. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out four. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 8 2019 | Blackburn (0-1) gave up five runs over three innings as he took the loss in the first game of a doubleheader against Texas on Saturday, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out four. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 7 2019 | Updating a previous report, Blackburn will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to start the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rangers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 5 2019 | Blackburn is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to start one game of the Athletics' doubleheader Saturday against the Rangers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 10 2018 | Blackburn (elbow) underwent an MRI on Tuesday which revealed no structural damage, but he'll still be shut down for a couple weeks, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | The Athletics were hopeful earlier Tuesday that Blackburn would spend minimal time on the shelf, but it now appears as though a return in late July would be an optimistic possibility. Trevor Cahill (Achilles) and Daniel Mengden (foot) could return from the disabled list this week, which could leave Blackburn as the odd man out of the starting rotation, which isn't helped by his 7.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. |
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| Jul 10 2018 | The Athletics are hopeful that Blackburn (elbow), who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday, will only be sidelined for a brief period, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn was diagnosed with tennis elbow following his July 6 start against the Indians and is scheduled to meet with team doctors in the Bay Area this week as the Athletics look to determine if there's any additional damage. If the current diagnosis holds, Blackburn could resume throwing at some point during the All-Star break and return from the DL shortly thereafter. The injury may nonetheless hinder Blackburn's chances of regaining as a rotation spot, as the Athletics could get starters Trevor Cahill (Achilles) and Daniel Mengden (foot) back from the DL this week. Blackburn may not have much of a case for sticking in the rotation over back-end starters like Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt, Brett Anderson and Edwin Jackson after struggling to a 7.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in six outings prior to landing on the shelf. |
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| Jul 8 2018 | The Athletics placed Blackburn on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with right elbow lateral epicondylitis. | The injury is better known as tennis elbow, suggesting Blackburn is likely battling a case of tendinitis. It's not expected that a long-term absence will be in play for Blackburn, but the right-hander will be sidelined through at least the All-Star break and is far from a safe bet to regain his rotation spot once he's back to full strength. Blackburn has posted a 7.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over six starts with the Athletics, who activated Brett Anderson (shoulder) from the DL ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Indians. Oakland is also expected to get fellow rotation members Daniel Mengden (foot) and Trevor Cahill (Achilles) back from the DL shortly before or after the break. |
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| Jul 6 2018 | Blackburn (2-3) surrendered six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three across four innings Friday as he took the loss to the Indians. | Blackburn was spotted an early two-run lead, but he gave up three runs in the third and two in the fifth, exiting with a 6-3 deficit. He's been inconsistent through six starts, as he put together a stellar outing in his last start (no runs through 6.1 innings) but he sits with a 7.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a .300 batting average against through 27.2 innings this season. |
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| Jun 29 2018 | Blackburn (2-2) got the win against the Indians on Friday, giving up just three hits over 6.1 shutout innings, striking out five and walking one as Oakland eventually prevailed 3-1. | Blackburn had an ugly 8.83 ERA through his first four starts of the season coming into this contest, but he was fantastic against Cleveland in logging his second victory of 2018. His 6.46 ERA is still far from pretty, but that number is a bit skewed thanks to two bad outings where he gave up a combined 14 earned runs. In his other three starts, Blackburn has been solid, yielding just three earned runs with a 12:3 K:BB over 17.1 innings. At this point, it's difficult to say which version of him will show up for a given start, making him an inherently risky fantasy option. He's slated to the take the mound next in a road matchup against this same Indians team on July 6. |
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| Jun 24 2018 | Blackburn (1-2) allowed six runs in five innings Sunday, yielding eight hits in a 10-3 loss to the White Sox. He struck out four and gave up a home run. | Blackburn cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and no runs before completely unraveling in the fifth. He allowed five runs on six hits and was eventually chased by a Daniel Palka homer to lead off the sixth. The 24-year-old owns a hideous 8.83 ERA in four starts this year, striking out 11 in 17.1 innings. He'll draw a tough matchup Friday against Cleveland and should be avoided in almost any fantasy format. |
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| Jun 20 2018 | Blackburn allowed two runs on four hits in a no-decision against the Padres on Tuesday, striking out four and walking two in five innings. | Tuesday's outing was a nice bounceback performance from Blackburn's previous start (in which he allowed eight runs in 1.1 innings), while making it to 85 pitches (53 strikes) on the night. The young right-hander has now made three starts this year, allowing 15 hits in 12.1 innings while striking out seven and walking four. With several A's starters expected to return to the rotation soon, it remains to be seen how Blackburn will be used going forward. |
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| Jun 13 2018 | Blackburn (1-1) was hammered for eight runs on eight hits and two walks through just 1.1 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Astros. | Blackburn was excellent against a bad lineup his first time out against Kansas City, but against the defending champions, things got ugly in a hurry. Not only did Blackburn fail to miss bats, he also struggled to find the strike zone. He was often forced to throw his fastball when behind in counts. The Astros didn't take him deep, but they did notch a double and a triple to go with six singles, and after Blackburn managed just four outs on 47 pitches, he was yanked. He'll try to get back on track Tuesday against the Padres. |
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| Jun 7 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) was officially reinstated from the 60-day DL prior to Thursday's start against Kansas City, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | As expected, Blackburn was added to the active roster ahead of his 2018 debut after suffering a forearm injury in the latter stages of spring training. He was able to toss three innings of work for High-A Stockton a week ago but is expected to be limited to about 75 pitches during Thursday's outing. In a corresponding move, the club optioned Bruce Maxwell to the minors and transferred Boog Powell (knee) to the 60-day DL. |
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| Jun 7 2018 | Blackburn (1-0) allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out three across six innings to earn the win Thursday against the Royals. | Blackburn turned in an impressive season debut, needing only 67 pitches to pitch six strong innings against the Royals. He limited the Royals to only three flyballs on 15 balls in play, though one did go for a home run off the bat of Alcides Escobar. His fantasy fantasy upside is held back by his lack of strikeouts -- he struck out just 22 batters in 58.2 innings of work last season -- but he has shown the ability to post solid ratios thanks to his penchant for inducing groundballs. |
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| Jun 6 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) will be activated from the disabled list to start Thursday's series opener against the Royals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | This confirms why Blackburn was scratched from his scheduled rehab start with High-A Stockton on Tuesday. The right-hander hasn't thrown more than 50 pitches in a rehab outing, so he'll be limited to around 75 pitches in his 2018 big-league debut. Blackburn, who has been sidelined all year with a right forearm strain, posted a 3.22 ERA and 22:16 K:BB across 10 starts (58.2 innings) with the A's last season. |
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| Jun 5 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) was scratched from Tuesday's planned rehab start at High-A Stockton and may instead make his 2018 big-league debut in the coming days, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn has yet to throw more than 50 pitches in his rehab stint and would have been slated for 75 had he made his Tuesday start for the Ports. Instead, he's joined the big-league club in Texas. The right-hander's arrival was prompted by Daniel Gossett's placement on the disabled list earlier in the day with a right elbow injury, and Blackburn confirmed that he's "here to pitch sometime" when questioned about the sudden change in plans. Manager Bob Melvin wouldn't go as far as making an official proclamations about his plans for Blackburn, but the Athletics are naturally short-handed for the time being given Gossett's absence. |
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| Jun 1 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) is scheduled to stretch out to 75 pitches in his next rehab start for High-A Stockton on Tuesday, Jordan Wolf of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn was transferred to the 60-day disabled list back on April 5, but he appears to finally be inching closer to a return. The 24-year-old right-hander pitched to plenty of contact in his first game action since August 2017 on Thursday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and a walk over 3.2 innings against Modesto while throwing 63 pitches overall. Despite the rough outing, manager Bob Melvin describes Blackburn as being "on his way" back to full health after his extended absence, but he may need two more rehab starts at minimum before being deemed ready for activation. |
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| May 29 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) will make a rehab start with High-A Stockton on Thursday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn threw four innings at extended spring training Friday and will now officially kick off his minor-league rehab assignment in Stockton. The righty will likely require multiple rehab starts as he hasn't appeared in a major-league contest since August 2017. |
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| May 27 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) threw four innings during his start at extended spring training Friday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn came out of the outing with no further setbacks in his recovery from the forearm strain, so he'll kick off a rehab assignment with High-A Stockton later this week. The right-hander is expected to work up to 60 pitches in his first rehab outing and will likely require at least 2-to-3 starts in the minors beyond that before the Athletics entertain activating him from the 60-day disabled list. |
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| May 22 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) is throwing in extended spring training and could begin an official rehab assignment next week according to Athletics head trainer Nick Paparesta, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn has been progressively working his way to health while throwing to hitters over the last several days. It appears he's getting closer to game action, which could leave him poised for a June season debut if he remains free of setbacks. |
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| May 16 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) will throw to hitters sometime Thursday according to manager Bob Melvin, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn was originally set to throw a batting practice session next Monday, but the timetable for him to face hitters appears to have been bumped up. The 24-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since late in spring training, and he's apparently been making steady progress since beginning a throwing program in mid-April. |
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| May 12 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) will throw live batting practice at High-A Stockton on May 21, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | The fact the announcement comes a full nine days prior to the date is a bit unusual, but it was made directly by manager Bob Melvin. In the interim, Blackburn will presumably continue to throw periodic bullpen sessions the likes of which he completed last Sunday. |
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| May 6 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) threw off a mound for the first time in his rehab Sunday, Michael Wagaman of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn had worked up to throwing from 90 feet earlier in the week. The 24-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since late in spring training, but recent developments have manager Bob Melvin encouraged. "He is on the mound so there's a natural progression that we go through to get them ready to go pitch rehab games," Melvin said. "It's still a little bit of a progression but the fact that he's throwing off the mound is very encouraging." |
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| May 4 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn continues to progress in his recovery from the right forearm strain sustained in mid-March, and the bullpen session was expected after he advanced to throwing from 90 feet last week. The 24-year-old is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list at the end of May, and a return around that time still appears possible. |
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| Apr 28 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) has progressed to throwing from 90 feet, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn has been dealing with a right forearm strain since mid-March and has been progressing slowly but surely. The 24-year-old could begin throwing off the mound when the Athletics return to Oakland next weekend, and a return in late May from the 60-day disabled list remains possible. |
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| Apr 20 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) said his Friday throwing session "went well" and that he will continue an every-other day program moving forward, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | This marked the first time Blackburn threw since experiencing forearm tightness late in spring training. Over the next few weeks, he will be eased back into a progression as he targets a return in late-May. |
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| Apr 16 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) is expected to begin a throwing program Friday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn was moved to the 60-day disabled list April 5, but he's scheduled to play catch Friday up to a distance of 60 feet. He'll look to progress through his throwing program as he aims for a return by the end of May. |
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| Apr 5 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | This move clears a spot on the Athletics' 40-man roster for the addition of Trayce Thompson, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Thursday. Blackburn was hoping to resume throwing sometime this week but was shut down after experiencing renewed soreness in his forearm. He'll now be sidelined until at least the end of May. In the meantime, Daniel Gossett will remain in Oakland's rotation until Blackburn is healthy. |
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| Apr 3 2018 | Blackburn is still dealing with forearm soreness and will remain shut down, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | There had been hopes that Blackburn would be able to resume throwing in the coming days. However, an MRI revealed that his injury was still lingering, so Blackburn will stay on the shelf. Until Blackburn is ready to come off the DL, Daniel Gossett will remain in Oakland's rotation. |
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| Apr 2 2018 | Blackburn (forearm) could resume throwing at the end of the week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn remains shut down from throwing after experiencing forearm tightness late in camp. While he's hoping to pick up a throwing program in the near future, the A's will continue to play it safe with the 24-year-old righty. A return date should emerge once he's able to resume throwing. In the meantime, Daniel Gossett will continue to fill in for Blackburn in the rotation. |
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| Mar 28 2018 | Blackburn was placed on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic Bay Area reports. | Blackburn has been sidelined since Thursday with forearm tightness, but an MRI revealed no structural damage. He's expected to resume throwing in early April and could be back on the roster soon after that. Daniel Gossett will open the season in the rotation in his place. |
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| Mar 22 2018 | An MRI on Blackburn's forearm revealed no structural damage, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | This is certainly encouraging news for Blackburn, as forearm tightness is often the precursor to a more serious ailment. The 24-year-old will now take some time off to let the discomfort subside before resuming a throwing program. He's still expected to open the season on the disabled list given how close it is to the start of the season, but he was close to being stretched out, so he seemingly won't need too much time to get up to speed once he's able to resume throwing. With Blackburn sidelined, Daniel Gossett will likely step into the team's rotation to open the season. |
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| Mar 22 2018 | Manager Bob Melvin said Blackburn (forearm) will be shut down from throwing for 10 days, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Forearm tightness prompted Blackburn to undergo an MRI on Thursday, though fortunately the tests revealed only a strain. He'll take some time off before resuming a throwing program, which will force him to open the season on the shelf. That said, given how stretched out he was before suffering the injury, Blackburn shouldn't need too much to get up to speed once he's able to resume throwing. In the meantime, Daniel Gossett appears to be the favorite to open the season in the rotation in his place. |
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| Mar 22 2018 | Blackburn is being examined by team doctors Thursday due to forearm tightness, Julian McWilliams of The Athletic Bay Area reports. | This might help to explain the shellacking he took in Wednesday's spring game. Regardless of when the injury occurred, it seems like Blackburn will not be ready for the start of the season, though more information should be known in the coming days. As a result of this injury, Daniel Gossett appears to be in line for a rotation spot to begin the season. |
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| Mar 21 2018 | Blackburn (0-3) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.1 innings in Tuesday's 8-2 Cactus League loss to the Dodgers. He struck out three. | The numbers tell the story of how much of a step back the outing was, with solo home runs from Chris Taylor and Yasmani Grandal the most impactful of the five extra-base hits Blackburn allowed over his brief time on the mound. He blamed the rocky performance on trying to tweak multiple mechanical issues during the start, Susan Slusser of SFGate.com reports. "It was me just trying to fix too many things at once instead of focusing on what I should have focused on," Blackburn said. "I've been working on a lot of things all spring and then today, nothing was there, so it went through my head about four or five different things to fix and that's not the right place to do it." Despite the forgettable performance, Blackburn still figures to have a solid chance of earning a starting rotation spot, although the recent addition of veteran Trevor Cahill adds another potential candidate to the mix. |
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| Mar 16 2018 | Blackburn, who struck out six and allowed two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings in a 6-2 Cactus League loss to the Mariners on Thursday, is making an impression in his bid for a rotation spot, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. "It's not easy to come in and pitch three or four innings like that in the middle of the game, and he's been able to do it a couple of times," manager Bob Melvin said. "Kept the ball down, keeps it on the ground, that's what he does." | Blackburn lowered his spring ERA to 3.86 with the impressive outing, which represented another positive step in his bid for a starting rotation spot. The 24-year-old right-hander has alternated a trio of scoreless efforts with a pair of appearances in which he's given up multiple earned runs this spring, but he's been able to miss plenty of bats on his way to 14 strikeouts over 14 innings. With Jharel Cotton (elbow) potentially facing a long-term absence, Blackburn's chances of securing a starting role appear especially strong at this point. |
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| Mar 11 2018 | Blackburn, who gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks over three innings while recording three strikeouts in a Saturday start against the Rangers, is having trouble separating from other contenders for one of two potential starting rotation spots, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports. | Blackburn has essentially alternated a pair of questionable outings with two impressive efforts over his four appearances, as he'd also allowed four earned runs over two innings versus the Cubs on Feb. 28. The Rangers sent six hitters to the plate against him in the first inning Saturday, with two of them eventually crossing the plate. While a Jake Smolinski error on a routine fly ball didn't help matters, a two-run home run by Elvis Andrus was all on Blackburn, who acknowledged that his location was off on that pitch. He did settle down over his final two frames, and the 24-year-old still feels confident in his ability to even out his performances. "My body feels good and I felt good with the stuff I had today. I feel like my fastball command came a long way since my first outing of spring. I just continue to build off that." |
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| Mar 6 2018 | Blackburn, who's competing for a spot in the starting rotation, is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and .174 BAA over seven innings across three spring training appearances. | As the disparity between the ERA and his WHIP and BAA metrics implies, Blackburn has actually been more effective than inept. However, a forgettable two-inning encounter with the Cubs last Wednesday in which he allowed four earned runs on three hits and a pair of walks has served to sully his overall line for the moment. Blackburn has been the diametric opposite in his other two trips to the mound, firing a pair of scoreless frames versus the Angels in his Feb. 23 spring debut, and then racking up a trio of strikeouts over three perfect innings in a 9-9 tie with the White Sox on Monday. The 24-year-old right-hander appears fully recovered from the wrist injury that ended his season prematurely in 2017, leaving him poised to potentially claim a rotation spot if he can remain consistent. |
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| Feb 16 2018 | Blackburn (wrist) is fully healthy heading into 2018 and will be looking to secure a spot in the rotation, Martin Gallegos of The Mercury News reports. | Blackburn was able to toss his first bullpen session of the spring camp Friday, and felt no ill effects from a right wrist injury that caused him to end last year prematurely. The right-hander was struck by a line drive against the Orioles in August, and was forced to shut instead of rushing through a recovery since the team was well out of playoff contention. In 10 starts, he posted a 3.22 ERA and 1.26 WHIP and a 22:16 K:BB over 58.2 innings. Moving forward, he will be competing with a bunch of others for one of three spots left in the rotation behind Sean Manaea and Kendall Graveman. Even if he's able to secure a spot in the rotation, Blackburn's inability to strike batters out significantly limits any upside in the fantasy realm. |
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| Nov 6 2017 | Blackburn (wrist) was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn's season was cut short in August after he took a comebacker off his wrist. The right-hander, who turned in a 3.22 ERA over 58.2 innings last season despite unsightly peripherals (2.5 percent K-BB), should compete for a roster spot in spring training. |
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| Sep 5 2017 | Blackburn (wrist) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Tuesday. | Blackburn was expected to miss the remainder of the season after being hit by a comebacker late last month, and this move makes it official. The right-hander turned in a 3.22 ERA over 58.2 innings for Oakland this season, but the peripherals suggest he overachieved to a large extent (2.5 percent K-BB%). Regardless, Blackburn figures to get a chance to compete for a roster spot in spring training. |
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| Sep 1 2017 | Blackburn (wrist) has a deep bone bruise and will likely be shut down for the season, reports. | The severity of the bruise will require Blackburn to be in a splint for a week. That time combined with the necessity of bullpen sessions and potentially a rehab assignment means that a return is extremely unlikely with just a month to go. The Athletics have no reason to rush him back, so consider Blackburn's season over. |
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| Aug 29 2017 | Tests on Blackburn's injured wrist came back clean but there is no timetable for his return, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | He will miss at least several starts, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, so it's possible he does not return at all this season. Blackburn has a 3.22 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 10 big-league starts, but his 22:16 K:BB in 58.2 innings suggests he has extreme negative regression coming whenever he returns to the mound. |
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| Aug 27 2017 | Blackburn (wrist) will miss longer than the minimum 10 days with his injury, Alex Simon of MLB.com reports. "Right now, he hasn't gotten to the point where he's able to play catch or really even grip a baseball," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It may take a little longer than we originally anticipated." | The rookie has been dealing with swelling in his injured right hand, as well as limited range of motion. While he's eligible to return Sept. 2, Blackburn's lack of progress has rendered that date irrelevant. With more testing on tap in the coming days, Blackburn may not be able to return until close to mid-September, which would potentially afford him 2-3 more starts before the end of the season. |
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| Aug 26 2017 | Blackburn will get a CT scan on his right hand Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn was placed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday, and while preliminary tests revealed no structural damage, the A's want to send him for additional tests to make sure there is no hairline fracture. A more concrete timetable for his return should materialize once the test results are known. |
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| Aug 25 2017 | Blackburn was put on the 10-day DL with a right hand contusion prior to Friday's game against the Rangers. | Blackburn will miss his upcoming start, but should be able to return for the first weekend in September when the club travels to Seattle. The right-hander is still dealing with soreness after being hit on the wrist by a liner during Tuesday's start. In his place, the club may choose to give Michael Brady a spot start after recalling the right-hander from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. |
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| Aug 23 2017 | Blackburn (wrist) is dealing with stiffness and soreness in his hand Wednesday, and is unlikely to be able to toss a bullpen session during the next couple day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicel reports. | Blackburn was removed from Tuesday's start after getting drilled on the wrist by a comebacker in the fifth inning. Although tests revealed no structural damage, the recent news regarding his injury casts doubt upon the date for Blackburn's next start. The right-hander remains a candidate for the 10-day DL in the coming days if it becomes apparent that he won't be able to take the mound by next week. |
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| Aug 22 2017 | Blackburn, who exited Tuesday's game early, was diagnosed with a bruised right wrist, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | Blackburn was forced to exit Tuesday's game against the Orioles early after being struck on the right wrist by a comebacker in the fifth inning. Preliminary tests revealed no structural damage to the injured wrist, so it sounds like Blackburn may not require a trip to the DL. His availability for his upcoming start will depend on how quickly the bruise heals. |
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| Aug 22 2017 | Blackburn exited Tuesday's game against the Orioles in the fifth inning after being hit by a comebacker on his right wrist/hand area, Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports California reports. | Blackburn tossed four scoreless frames before being struck in the right wrist/hand area by a Trey Mancini line drive in the bottom of the fifth inning. He appeared to be in quite a bit of pain and quickly exited the game with team trainers. An update on his condition should become available following Tuesday's contest. |
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| Aug 16 2017 | Blackburn allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings Wednesday but didn't factor into the decision in a 7-6 loss to the Royals. He struck out two. | He labored through his short outing, throwing only 56 of 97 pitches for strikes, and left the game on the hook for the loss before the A's rallied to tie things in the bottom of the eighth inning. Blackburn has now allowed four runs or more in four of his last six starts but held his opponents scoreless in the other two, leaving him with a semi-respectable 4.37 ERA over that stretch. He'll next take the mound Tuesday in Baltimore. |
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| Aug 12 2017 | Blackburn allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Friday against Baltimore. | Blackburn is alternating quality starts and weak starts at this pint, as he has allowed 4, 0, 5, 0, and now 4 runs in each of his past five starts. Friday's start saw him allow a career high in hits as well as his first home run in four starts in what was clearly not his sharpest outing. Blackburn still owns a solid 3.02 ERA and is establishing himself as part of Oakland's young core. |
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| Aug 5 2017 | Blackburn (3-1) allowed five hits over 6.2 scoreless innings while earning the win against the Angels on Saturday, recording one strikeout in the process. | Blackburn continues to solidify himself as a productive starter in the Oakland rotation, lowering his ERA to 2.60 since joining the team at the start of July. He lasted 112 pitches Saturday, a career high, and never allowed a runner past first base after the second inning. Although Blackburn's 3.76 K/9 leaves much to be desired at this point, his streak of success should give him plenty of starting opportunities heading into the homestretch of the season - so long as the team doesn't have an innings limit. Blackburn lines up to face the Orioles at home on Thursday. |
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| Jul 31 2017 | Blackburn (2-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 6.1 innings in a win Monday against San Francisco. | Blackburn didn't get any help from his bullpen, which allowed two inherited runners to score. Had they managed to shut the door in the seventh, Blackburn would have had his second straight quality start and his fifth in six MLB outings. As is, he still owns a solid 3.05 ERA and is establishing himself in Oakland's rotation. |
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| Jul 31 2017 | Blackburn is expected to enter the Athletics' rotation to replace the recently-traded Sonny Gray, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | Gray was scheduled to start Monday night against the Giants, but after he was shipped off to the Yankees prior to the trade deadline, Blackburn will presumably enter the fray to make a start in his stead. Afterward, he seems like a logical candidate to remain in Oakland's rotation. If this news holds up, Blackburn would line up to face Matt Cain in Monday's series opener. |
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| Jul 31 2017 | Blackburn will start Monday's game against the Giants, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | The Athletics' initial schedule listed Blackburn as the Tuesday starter for this week, but he'll move up a day following the trade of Sonny Gray to the Yankees earlier Monday. Since Blackburn last pitched July 26, he'll still have his normal four days of rest between starts, so he shouldn't face any restrictions with his pitch count. With quality starts in four of his five turns with the Athletics, Blackburn has been an excellent innings eater, but his fantasy appeal has been limited by a porous 3.4 K/9 rate over that span. The lack of strikeouts certainly won't help his chances of maintaining his sterling 2.25 ERA going forward. |
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| Jul 27 2017 | Blackburn held Toronto to just two hits over seven scoreless innings in Wednesday's no-decision. He struck out three and walked three. | The rookie generated 12 outs on the ground and just one through the air, which is a pretty solid plan of action that's been working out well for him. However, with a pathetic 3.4 K/9, it's going to be impossible for Blackburn to maintain anything even remotely resembling his current 2.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP; once his BABIP and strand rate normalize, his ratios will skyrocket, making him a fringe fantasy play at best. |
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| Jul 22 2017 | Blackburn (1-1) gave up four earned runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Mets. He also recorded a strikeout. | The rookie's most glaring mistake was the mammoth two-run home run he surrendered to Michael Conforto in the third. Blackburn was serviceable but somewhat on the inefficient side otherwise, throwing only 43 of 76 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old has gotten into at least the sixth inning in all four of his starts -- with Friday's being his shortest thus far -- and he still sports a solid 2.88 ERA despite having next to no strikeout upside (nine whiffs over 25.0 innings). He'll look to secure his second victory when he faces the Blue Jays on the road next Wednesday. |
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| Jul 15 2017 | Blackburn (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits over six innings in Saturday's no-decision against the Indians. | Making his third career start, the 23-year-old continued his dominant arrival to the majors, holding Cleveland off the scoreboard until an Edwin Encarnacion two-run blast in the fourth inning. Regardless, the young starter was once again effective in working his way out of trouble time and again before turning it over to the bullpen in the seventh inning. His 4.17 FIP and low 8:6 K:BB suggest that he may not be a major fantasy asset in the long term, but his strong start should certainly earn him more opportunities in the Oakland rotation. |
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| Jul 7 2017 | Blackburn (1-0) allowed a single run on eight hits and a walk over 7.2 innings during Thursday's win over Seattle. He didn't record a single strikeout, though. | Blackburn has now allowed just two runs -- only one earned -- through 13.2 innings over his first two outings in the majors. It's an impressive start, but with just four strikeouts (2.6 K/9), he's lacking a key ingredient to being a strong fantasy asset. Additionally, his 4.39 FIP through 15 games with Triple-A Sacramento suggest he's likely to have rougher times ahead. His long-term upside is also in question. |
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| Jul 2 2017 | Blackburn will remain in Oakland's rotation going forward, and will start Thursday in Seattle, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | He delivered six strong innings with one unearned run and four strikeouts in his big-league debut Saturday against the Braves, which was enough for him to hold on to a spot in the rotation, even with Jharel Cotton returning from a blister. Jesse Hahn was sent to Triple-A to make room for Blackburn. While Blackburn's first start was encouraging, he profiles as more of a back-end starter or swing man long term. |
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| Jul 1 2017 | Blackburn was recalled from Triple-A Nashville prior to his start Saturday against the Braves. | This will be his big-league debut after posting a 3.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:26 K:BB in 79.2 innings at Triple-A this season. He knows how to locate and sequence his pitches, but Blackburn lacks the type of stuff that portends success against big-league hitters. He could head back to Triple-A when Jharel Cotton (finger) is ready to return to the big-league rotation. |
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| Jul 1 2017 | Blackburn (0-0) allowed an unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings, but didn't factor into the decision Saturday against the Braves. | Blackburn had an excellent big-league debut, but due to a lack of run support, he didn't have a chance to pick up his first victory. Should he remain in the rotation, his solid debut makes him someone to consider taking a flier on in fantasy leagues, however, his next start has yet to be determined. |
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| Jun 30 2017 | Blackburn will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to start Saturday's game against the Braves, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. | With Jharel Cotton unable to make his scheduled start due to a lingering blister on his finger, Blackburn is set to make his MLB debut. The 23-year-old posted a 3.05 ERA in 14 starts for Nashville in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though he may not be the most attractive streaming option given his 56 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. |
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