New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back, hand) isn't feeling much better after being scratched from his scheduled start this week due to a new back injury, so he will not return from the injured list this weekend to pitch against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Right-hander Tylor Megill, who was lights-out in place of Blackburn on Monday against the Washington Nationals, will get at least another start and is in line to face the Phillies on Sunday. Megill won't be as nice of a streaming option if he faces the Phillies in the series finale on Sunday, but he could also get flipped to Monday in what would be a rematch of the Nats. Blackburn hasn't looked great since being acquired from the A's and hasn't pitched Aug. 23, when he took a comebacker off his hand. It's unclear at the moment how much longer Blackburn will be out as the Mets look to secure a playoff spot.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (back, hand) was originally expected to come off the 15-day injured list to start on Monday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, but those plans were scrapped due to a back issue, and Blackburn will not pitch in the series in Toronto this week. Right-hander Tylor Megill made the spot start on Monday and tossed six shutout innings with two walks and nine strikeouts in a tough-luck no-decision. The Mets will see if Blackburn improves in the next couple of days, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. A comebacker to his right pitching hand put the 30-year-old on the IL on Aug. 25, but now he could be in danger of missing the rest of the 2024 regular season if his back injury is serious enough. The Mets could definitely use Blackburn as they try to sneak into the National League playoffs as a wild-card team, although he's been pretty lackluster since joining the Mets via trade.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (hand), who was originally scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make the start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, will no longer start, according to the team. Instead, right-hander Tylor Megill is the team's new probable starter. It's unclear if Blackburn has had a setback with his hand, but if he hasn't, the 30-year-old veteran could just be pushed back a day as a precaution. Blackburn suffered a right-hand bruise several weeks ago on a comebacker but is close to rejoining the Mets' starting rotation. Since coming over from the Oakland Athletics in a trade, Blackburn has been an unreliable fantasy streamer, going 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in 24 1/3 innings over his five starts. He'll be a shaky deep-league streamer if he rejoins the rotation this week in Toronto.

New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (hand) is set to return from the 15-day injured list on Monday to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Blackburn hit the injured list on August 30 after suffering a right-hand contusion. Blackburn looked sharp in his lone rehab outing on September 3, where he logged six 2/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out four. Seeing how quickly the 30-year-old is set to return, fantasy managers should not expect him to face any serious innings limit on Monday. Blackburn could be worth keeping on your roster in deeper leagues, as he should remain in the Mets rotation during the final weeks of the season. This summer, Blackburn sits with a mediocre 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 21:59 BB:K ratio through 75 innings of work.

New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (hand) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday afternoon with a right-hand contusion. In a corresponding move, the Mets promoted right-handed pitcher Huascar Brazoban from Triple-A Syracuse. The 30-year-old starting pitcher suffered the injury in his previous start on Friday evening, but his CT scan returned negative. However, Blackburn will sit out for at least the next 15 games. Brazoban made nine appearances at the major league level this summer and held a 3.76 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with 44 punchouts across 40 frames of work. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to who claims the open spot in the rotation. Tylor Megill is a possible candidate to earn the call from Triple-A, as he has received several major league starts this summer.

The New York Mets say starting pitcher Paul Blackburn only has a bruise on his right hand after exiting Friday night's start against the hosting San Diego Padres at Petco Park, but he'll undergo further testing on Saturday. Other tests can pick up small fractures that traditional X-rays cannot, so it's important for the Mets to cover their bases on this one after Blackburn was struck by a David Peralta comebacker in the third inning of Friday's game against San Diego. Fantasy managers should deem the hurler day-to-day ahead of his next scheduled appearance, which tentatively lines up on Thursday on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 30-year-old right-hander has not fared well since landing in Queens, logging a 5.18 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and 21:7 K:BB over 24 1/3 frames (five starts). Jose Butto would be an option to join New York's rotation if Blackburn needs to go on the injured list.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn is set to face his old team, the Oakland Athletics, on Tuesday night, and he'll be pretty much a new pitcher when he does. Since being acquired from the A's at the trade deadline at the end of July, Blackburn has altered his pitch mix to emphasize his cutter and changeup at the expense of his four-seam fastball and curveball. In his two starts with the Mets while using the new plan against the Angels and Rockies, Blackburn had a 1.50 ERA over 12 innings with 12 strikeouts and four walks. The cutter is the 30-year-old's best pitch, so the Mets have basically encouraged him to use it more often. The Angels and Rockies are two of the weakest teams in baseball, and he'll get another bottom-feeder on Tuesday in the A's, making Blackburn a fine fantasy streamer in his third start for the Mets.

The New York Mets are finalizing a deal on Tuesday to acquire right-hander Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics, according to sources. At this time, it's unclear what the Mets will send to the A's for Blackburn as they look for more starting pitching depth now that right-hander Kodai Senga (calf) is expected to miss the rest of the season. Blackburn doesn't carry a ton of fantasy appeal to begin with, but the move from one of the worst teams in baseball to a contender in the National League will have his arrow pointing up somewhat. The 30-year-old just returned from a stress fracture in his foot and has gone 4-2 in 2024 with a 4.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 38:14 K:BB in only nine starts covering 51 innings. He'll have a better offense backing him, but his fantasy ceiling is limited with a career 17.7% strikeout rate in eight big-league campaigns.UPDATE: The Mets sent the A's right-hander Kade Morris, who was considered by MLB Pipeline to be New York's No. 25 prospect.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot) will be activated from the 15-day injured list on Friday to start against the hosting division-rival Los Angeles Angels, according to manager Mark Kotsay. Blackburn hasn't pitched since May 10 after suffering a right-foot stress reaction, so although the matchup is a juicy one, fantasy managers should still have plenty of hesitation in streaming him. He had a 4.11 ERA in eight starts before suffering his foot injury earlier this year. Kotsay said that Blackburn will be on a pitch count around 65 to 70 pitches, which is another reason to avoid him in fantasy lineups on Friday. The 30-year-old veteran broke out in 2022 and was selected to his first All-Star game and he's developed into a solid starter since that point. His weak 17.8% career strikeout leaves a lot to be desired in fantasy, though, especially while pitching in Oakland.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot) appeared in relief again in his second minor-league rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday and threw gave up no runs on one hit with a walk and a strikeout in just two-thirds of an inning. Blackburn also hit a batter while throwing 23 pitches. The 30-year-old didn't look good in less than an inning of work in his first rehab appearance last week for Single-A Stockton, either, so the A's will surely want to see more from him on his rehab assignment before reinstating him from the 15-day injured list in the second half of the season. Blackburn certainly needs to stretch his arm out more if he's going to rejoin the A's starting rotation. Before his foot injury, he went 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 36 K's and 13 walks over eight starts. He'll be a low-upside, deep-league streaming option when he's back in Oakland.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Ross Stripling (elbow) came away from his first minor-league rehab start with Single-A Stockton on Tuesday feeling healthy. His next rehab outing is expected to come with Stockton on Sunday. Right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot) also came away feeling healthy from his first rehab outing with Stockton on Tuesday, and his next appearance will also come with Stockton on Sunday. Stripling is recovering from a right elbow flexor strain, while Blackburn is rehabbing from a right foot stress reaction. Barring setbacks, both pitchers should rejoin Oakland's starting rotation later this month, although neither have much upside for fantasy managers with the lowly A's. Stripling gave up two runs in just two-thirds of an inning on Tuesday, while Blackburn also went just two-thirds of an inning and gave up three earned runs with Stockton.

Both right-handers Ross Stripling (elbow) and Paul Blackburn (foot) had uneven performances in their minor-league rehab appearances for Single-A Stockton on Tuesday night. Stripling started the game and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in just two-thirds of an inning. Blackburn, meanwhile, came on in relief and also only went two-thirds of a frame, allowing three earned runs on two hits while walking two and fanning one. Both pitchers failed to even reach the 30-pitch mark. Stripling and Blackburn should advance up the minor-league ladder for their next rehab starts, but neither middling hurler will probably be ready to rejoin Oakland's rotation for the start of the second half of the season. Blackburn is probably the more attractive streaming option in deep fantasy leagues when healthy, but neither has much upside at all.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot), who landed on the injured list on May 13 with a right-foot stress reaction, threw a bullpen session at Chase Field on Saturday that simulated two innings. Blackburn's next step will be facing hitters in a live batting practice session on Wednesday, July 3. Fellow right-hander Ross Stripling (elbow) is on the same progression as the 30-year-old Blackburn, although Blackburn has been out slightly longer. He'll eventually need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment as well, so it's likely that we won't see Blackburn in Oakland's starting rotation until the second half of the season. Before injuring his foot, he had gone 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 13 walks in 46 innings over his eight starts. Blackburn could be useful in deep fantasy leagues in the right matchups, but his career 17.8% K rate doesn't give him much upside.

Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (foot) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, June 20, but there is still no timetable to return. This was the first time that Blackburn has thrown off a mound since being put on the injured list on May 13 with a right-foot stress reaction. The fact that there's still no timetable for his return means that fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't expect him to return to Oakland's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July. The 30-year-old is going to need to throw multiple bullpens before facing live hitters and then going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Barring a setback, the former 56th overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2012 should be back before both Ross Stripling (elbow) and Alex Wood (shoulder). In eight starts (46 innings) before his injury, Blackburn had a 4.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 36 K's.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.