Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Tosses four innings in return
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Blackburn (finger) allowed one run on four hits and two walks across four innings during Monday's 7-2 win over Atlanta. He struck out six and didn't factor in the decision.
In his return from the 15-day injured list for his 2023 debut, Blackburn delivered better-than-expected results after he logged a 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 make his second start of the week in Miami this weekend.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Returns for season debut
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The Athletics activated Blackburn (finger) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus Atlanta.
Blackburn will make his season debut for Oakland after recovering from a cracked fingernail and blister issues that resulted in him going on two separate minor-league rehab assignments prior to his activation. He was an up-and-down performer on his most recent rehab stint and faces a difficult matchup in his first start back, making Blackburn a fairly easy sit in most fantasy leagues, even though he projects to get two turns through the rotation this week.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Set for Monday's start
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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.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Excels in latest rehab start
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Blackburn (finger) covered five innings Wednesday in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas, striking out five while allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk.
Blackburn has resided on the 15-day injured list all season with a right middle fingernail avulsion, but he's now made a total of six starts in the minors over the course of two separate rehab assignments. He was pulled off the first rehab assignment in April after redeveloping a blister, but he's remained free of setbacks and has steadily built back up upon starting a new rehab assignment May 14. After tossing 73 pitches Wednesday and doing well to silence the Triple-A Tacoma bats, Blackburn could be cleared to return from the IL to make his 2023 debut with Oakland. The Athletics will likely re-evaluate him following a bullpen session over the weekend before deciding if he's ready to be activated during the team's upcoming three-game series with Atlanta that begins Monday.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Another rehab start coming
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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.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Next rehab start set
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Blackburn (finger) is slated to make another rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas later in the week, the Associated Press reports.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Hit hard in rehab start
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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.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Completes side session Thursday
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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.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Rehab start postponed again
Rotowire
Blackburn's (finger) rehab start scheduled for Sunday was pushed back after he experienced more discomfort with his blister, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
This is now the second time Blackburn's finger blister has prevented him from making his next rehab start. He worked his way up to 62 pitches in his most recent start last Sunday, but now that he's experienced multiple setbacks, Blackburn may still be a few weeks away from his season debut.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Friday's rehab start postponed
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Blackburn (finger) had his rehab start scheduled for Friday with Triple-A Las Vegas postponed because of the blister he developed during his previous outing Sunday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander continues to play catch for the time being, but manager Mark Kotsay says there's no current timetable for Blackburn's next rehab start. Blackburn had worked up to 62 pitches in Sunday's outing, yet the setback and time off between starts now appears likely to delay his big-league season debut into May.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Recovering from blister
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Blackburn came away from his latest rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday with a blister on his middle finger, and the right-hander's next appearance is in doubt, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports
Blackburn struggled in the outing with four runs allowed on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings, and the blister likely played a part in it. Considering that Blackburn was already rehabbing a middle finger avulsion before developing the blister, he may require some time off for the blister to heal before he resumes his rehab assignment.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Struggles in latest rehab start
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Blackburn (finger) allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Salt Lake on Sunday. He struck out three.
Blackburn worked up to 62 pitches, but with only 37 finding the strike zone, it's evident that was largely due to control issues. The right-hander surrendered a two-run home run to Mickey Moniak among his six hits, and he's now allowed seven runs (six earned) on 15 hits and three walks across 7.1 frames in his three rehab appearances. Blackburn likely lines up for at least one more start with the Aviators before he's deemed fit for his 2023 big-league debut.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Sharp in rehab start
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Blackburn (finger) covered three shutout innings in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Las Vegas, scattering two hits and issuing no walks in the 34-pitch outing.
Blackburn didn't strike out any batters in the rehab start, but making bats miss typically isn't part of his game plan for success even when he's not building back up from an injury. Since opening the season on the 15-day injured list with a right middle fingernail avulsion, Blackburn has made two rehab starts, but he'll likely need to increase his pitch count to the 75-to-90 range over the course of one or two more minor-league outings before he's cleared to join the Oakland rotation.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Another rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
Blackburn (finger) will make his next minor-league rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Las Vegas, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander threw 40 pitches over 1.2 innings during his first rehab start Friday, and he's scheduled to progress to about 45 pitches or three innings Tuesday. Blackburn will likely require another minor-league start or two beyond that outing before being built up enough to join the A's.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Rehab start coming Friday
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Blackburn (finger) will make a rehab start Friday for Low-A Stockton, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Throws 40 pitches in side session
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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.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Athletics on Thursday with a right middle fingernail avulsion.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Throwing off mound Monday
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Blackburn (finger) is slated to throw off a mound Monday after his flat-ground session Thursday went well, the team's official site reports.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Ruled out for Opening Day
Rotowire
Blackburn (finger) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
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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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Opening Day in jeopardy
Rotowire
Blackburn might not be ready for Opening Day due to a fingernail avulsion on his pitching hand, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
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.
