Fri May 31 | 13:07 | Paul Blackburn Still In A Walking Boot |
Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot) was still in a walking boot as of Tuesday. Manager Mark Kotsay said that Blackburn will probably be re-evaluated when the team returns to Oakland to open its next homestand on June 4 against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. Blackburn was placed on the injured list with a right-foot stress reaction and doesn't appear to be very close to a return. The 30-year-old's IL stint is retroactive to May 11, but as of right now, it looks like he won't return to the A's until the middle of June. At best, Blackburn will be deep-league streaming option when the matchups are right when he's healthy. Before injuring his foot, he went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 innings over his eight starts. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon May 13 | 20:15 | A's Place Paul Blackburn On 15-Day Injured List |
The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Paul Blackburn on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 11) on Monday with a stress reaction of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and recalled left-hander Easton Lucas from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Blackburn will be in a walking boot for at least two weeks, so he's not going to be ready to return to the A's when he's eligible. Before injuring his foot, the 30-year-old Blackburn went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with 13 walks and 36 strikeouts in 46 innings over his eight starts. With a career 6.9 K/9 in 399 big-league innings, Blackburn has a low fantasy ceiling when he's healthy, especially while pitching for the A's. His turn in the rotation, which comes up next on Thursday against the Houston Astros, could be taken by Joey Estes. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Sun May 5 | 10:32 | Paul Blackburn Holds Marlins In Check, Earns Third Win |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn went seven innings in Saturday's 20-4 victory, holding the Marlins to just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three on his way to earning his third win of the season. Blackburn began the season with three straight quality starts where he didn't allow a single run, then had a three-game rough patch before getting back on track Saturday. The 30-year-old now has a 3-1 record with a 3.00 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through seven starts. The righty's FIP, xFIP, and SIERA are all below 4.00 which suggests he's pitched as well as it seems, and with Oakland being more competitive than expected to this point, Blackburn could continue to be solid pitching depth for fantasy as long as he's selectively deployed. However, you'll need to look elsewhere for strikeouts with just 31 in 42 IP and a 12.7% K-BB%. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Apr 28 | 16:46 | Paul Blackburn Smoked For Six Runs Against Orioles |
Oakland Athletics starter Paul Blackburn allowed six runs on seven hits in four innings of work during Sunday's 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles. He struck out five batters while issuing one walk. The long ball killed Blackburn in this one as he gave up three home runs in the contest. The 30-year-old started the season with three straight scoreless outings and garnered streaming appeal in the process, but he has now given up 13 runs over his last three appearances. Blackburn will face the Miami Marlins in his next projected start, which is an appealing matchup, but he is tough to trust right now. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Jul 8 2023 | 14:49 | Paul Blackburn Scratched From Start On Saturday |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (illness) won't play against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. The 29-year-old isn't feeling well. However, an official diagnosis hasn't been made public, so it's anyone's guess if he'll miss any more time moving ahead. In the meantime, Austin Pruitt will take Blackburn's spot on the bump. The right-hander is 1-5 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 games this season, meaning he's not worth considering for any fantasy lineup, even for those desperate for an arm. |
Source: Oakland A's | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Jun 21 2023 | 14:58 | Paul Blackburn Looking To Maintain Consistency Wednesday |
Oakland A's pitcher Paul Blackburn will look to keep up his solid work in a small sample this season on Wednesday versus the Cleveland Guardians. The right-hander has made just four starts this season but has worked to a 3.48 ERA/3.84 SIERA along with a career-best 18.7% K-BB% across 20 2/3 innings of work. The former first-round pick has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his four starts with his lone blemish coming on June 4 against the Marlins when he yielded five earned runs in five innings of work. Wins will be tough to come by on a weak A's club but a notable increase in strikeout rate combined with solid run prevention and peripherals certainly puts Blackburn on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon May 29 2023 | 16:38 | Paul Blackburn Activated, Starting On Monday |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) has been activated from the 15-day injured list on Monday. The right-hander missed the first two months of the regular season due to a right thumbnail injury he suffered in spring training. He posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, with 89 strikeouts over 111.1 innings last season. Blackburn is set to take the ball versus the Atlanta Braves on Monday. He's not going to be a favorable streaming option against the tough Braves lineup. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Fri May 26 2023 | 09:24 | Paul Blackburn To Make Season Debut Next Week |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) is almost ready to come off the injured list to make his season debut, which will likely come at some point next week, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The right-hander has spent the entire season so far on the shelf after suffering a right middle fingernail avulsion in March. The news won't affect every fantasy league, as Blackburn's value is limited after he posted a 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and seven wins with just 89 strikeouts over 111.1 innings in 2022. However, in deep and AL-only leagues, he can be utilized as a depth option, given his ability to throw strikes (career 6.4% walk rate). |
Source: Martin Gallegos | RotoBaller.com |
Fri May 12 2023 | 12:25 | Paul Blackburn Slated For Rehab Start Sunday |
Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (finger) threw a side session on Thursday, and manager Mark Kotsay said the plan was for Blackburn to throw 45 pitches on Sunday in a minor-league rehab outing for Triple-A Las Vegas. Blackburn has spent the entire season so far on the injured list due to a right middle fingernail avulsion. The 29-year-old is getting closer to making his 2023 debut for the A's, but he'll first require at least several rehab starts before he's activated. He made his first All-Star appearance in 2022, when he went 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA (4.21 FIP), 1.26 WHIP and career-high 19.1 percent strikeout rate in 111 1/3 innings over 21 starts for Oakland. Once he's fully recovered from his finger ailment, Blackburn should be a fixture in the team's starting rotation. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 17 2023 | 14:08 | Paul Blackburn Will Start Season On Injured List |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) will begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list due to a cracked fingernail, according to manager Mark Kotsay. Blackburn had a nice season with the A's in 2022, but he also made only 21 starts due to another finger injury. The A's haven't given a timetable on his return, but the 29-year-old right-hander shouldn't miss too much time to begin the season. He went 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in his first 13 starts last year before his finger injury cropped up, and fantasy managers will be hoping he can return to that level once he gets past his latest finger injury. Blackburn is worth a late-round flier in deep mixed leagues in a great home pitching park. |
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 14 2023 | 13:22 | Paul Blackburn May Not Be Ready For Opening Day |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) has a right middle fingernail avulsion (torn nail) that will cause him to be scratched from his Cactus League outing on Wednesday. Manager Mark Kotsay said it could jeopardize Blackburn's availability to begin the regular season as well. It's disappointing for the 29-year-old right-hander, who had a chance to be the team's Opening Day starter in 2023 after one of his best performances last year. He made only 21 starts due to injury, but he posted a 4.28 ERA (4.21 FIP), 1.26 WHIP and career-high 19.1 percent strikeout rate in 111 1/3 innings. Blackburn also dealt with a middle finger injury in 2022, but this injury appears unrelated. If he does start the year on the injured list, he shouldn't need to miss much time. |
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 7 2023 | 13:54 | Paul Blackburn Wants To Use Changeup More |
Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn, who is entering a season with a secure rotation spot in 2023 for the first time in his career, is utilizing that luxury by treating spring games as a testing ground for a more versatile repertoire of pitches. He wants to increase the usage of his changeup against right-handers after not being able to do so in 2022 due to a finger injury that ended his season in August. Blackburn's changeup plan is still a work in progress this spring, but the 29-year-old is coming off his first All-Star campaign in which he had a 4.28 ERA (4.21 FIP), 1.26 WHIP and career-high 19.1% strikeout rate in 21 starts. He isn't a big strikeout guy and doesn't overpower hitters, but he could create more weak contact with his six-pitch mix in a pitcher-friendly home park. |
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Jan 27 2023 | 18:31 | James Kaprielian, Paul Blackburn Expected To Be Ready |
The Oakland Athletics expect starting pitchers James Kaprielian (shoulder) and Paul Blackburn (finger) to be ready for spring training, according to general manager David Forst. It's the reason the team felt comfortable trading left-hander Cole Irvin to the Baltimore Orioles this week. Kaprielian had surgery to fix the AC joint in his right-shoulder in the offseason. The 28-year-old figures to be a fixture in the A's rotation after posting a 4.23 ERA (4.63 FIP), 1.34 WHIP and 17 percent strikeout rate in a career-high 26 starts in his third MLB season in 2022. Blackburn was excellent for Oakland before a finger caused him to be shut down in July. The 29-year-old was an All-Star last for the first time last year and went 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA (4.21 FIP), 1.26 WHIP and career-high 19.1 percent strikeout rate in a career-high 21 starts in his sixth season in Oakland. |
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Aug 20 2022 | 14:48 | Paul Blackburn Transferred To The 60-Day Injured List |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) has been transferred to the 60-day injured list. The A's needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster after claiming right-hander pitcher Joel Payamps off waivers from Kansas City. Blackburn, who made the AL All-Star team earlier this season, will remain out for the rest of the season and can be dropped in season-long fantasy leagues. He finishes the year with a 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 89:30 K/BB ratio over 111 1/3 innings (21 starts). |
Source: Oakland A's Communications on Twitter | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Aug 16 2022 | 18:13 | Paul Blackburn Shut Down For The Season |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) will be shut down for the remainder of the 2022 season, according to A's manager Mark Kotsay. The right-hander is dealing with inflammation in the middle finger of his pitching hand. He landed on the injured list about a week ago. He met with a specialist on Monday and the diagnosis from the specialist is what led to the decision to shut Blackburn down. The 28-year-old had the best season of his career in 2022. Across 21 starts, he went 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. |
Source: Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Aug 10 2022 | 14:46 | Paul Blackburn Lands On The Injured List |
The Oakland Athletics placed pitcher Paul Blackburn (finger) on the 15-day injured list with an inflamed right middle finger. He was initially scheduled to start Wednesday against the Angels, but the A's decided to place him on the IL. Blackburn said, "he's been pitching with the finger discomfort, and it was more sore after his last start." Blackburn will see a hand specialist Monday and is hopeful not to miss too much time. The 28-year-old owns a 4.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts over 111 1/3 innings in 2022. JP Sears was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Sears was acquired by the A's in the Frankie Montas trade with the Yankees. The 26-year-old owned a 2.05 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 22 innings with New York in 2022. |
Source: Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle | RotoBaller.com |
Tue May 10 2022 | 00:18 | Paul Blackburn Tosses Another Gem Monday |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn improved to 4-0 in Monday's 2-0 win over the Tigers. Blackburn pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks with three strikeouts. The 28-year-old hasn't been fantasy relevant since his rookie season in 2017, but he now owns a sterling 1.74 ERA with 26 strikeouts and three walks over his first six starts and 31 IP this season. It may be hard for fantasy managers to buy into his recent performance so far given his career track record, but Blackburn is currently just 58 percent rostered and is now worth a look in most leagues. He will look to keep things going in his next start against a tough Angels matchup at home. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Apr 22 2022 | 11:06 | Paul Blackburn Moves to 2-0 After Thursday's Win |
Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn earned his second win of the season after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Thursday. The 28-year-old threw five innings of one-run ball while striking out four and allowing just three hits and no free passes. Blackburn has impressive numbers thus far, posting a 1.80 ERA, 25.5 K%, and 0.80 WHIP. These aren't close to his career numbers, as, before 2022, he owned a lifetime ERA and FIP of 5.74 and 4.67, respectively. However, Blackburn's impressive 1.39 FIP backs up his mini breakout so far. He's looking more like a must-add after each start, so if he's still available, fantasy managers would be wise to take a shot on him on the waiver wire. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Sep 22 2021 | 09:29 | Paul Blackburn Ineffective In Loss To Mariners On Tuesday |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn allowed four runs - three earned - across four innings to take the loss on Tuesday versus Seattle. Blackburn entered the rotation after Chris Bassitt (face) landed on the injured list, and has not been effective as a starter as the A's continue to plummet down the standings. Blackburn has not pitched past the fifth inning in any of his seven starts and is sporting a grotesque 5.17 ERA on the season. He's not a fantasy option in a start versus Houston next time out. |
Source: ESPN.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Aug 30 2021 | 10:53 | Paul Blackburn Delivers Five Shutout Innings In No-Decision |
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn allowed five hits and zero runs across five innings, but had to settle for a no-decision Sunday versus the Yankees. Blackburn had only one strikeout and issued one walk in the contest. The right-hander has stepped up in his three outings since taking over for Chris Bassitt (face) in the starting rotation. Blackburn has made three starts and lasted at least five innings in all of them while allowing no more than three runs in any start. Despite being good for the A's, Blackburn doesn't have much fantasy appeal as he's got just a 12% career strikeout rate and will face a tough Toronto lineup next time he toes the rubber. |
Source: ESPN.com | RotoBaller.com |