Paul Blackburn DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Mets right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn (knee) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list and make his season debut on Monday evening against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Blackburn has been on the injured list throughout the start of the season due to right knee inflammation. Blackburn has logged 29 1/3 innings of rehab work with High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Across this stint, Blackburn posted a 3.68 ERA with a strong 1.09 WHIP. With Triple-A, he has held a 2.70 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. Last season, the 31-year-old logged 75 1/3 innings with the Athletics and Mets and held a cumulative 4.66 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Blackburn's production as he may not be given a permanent role in the starting rotation. For now, he is only worth adding in deeper NL-only leagues.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (knee) will make his seventh minor-league rehab start on Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse, according to The Athletic's Tim Britton. The Mets have kept Blackburn in the minor leagues as they postpone a decision on their starting rotation. They will need a sixth starter in the first week of June, and Britton writes that we can pencil Blackburn in to start the series opener in Los Angeles against the Dodgers a week from Monday. The 31-year-old veteran has a 3.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and 11 walks in six rehab starts at Syracuse, High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. Not only will Blackburn's first start in 2025 be one to fade him in against the Dodgers, but after that start, he could be shifted to a long-relief role out of the bullpen once the Mets return to a five-man rotation.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (knee) will make his next minor-league rehab appearance on Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, according to NorthJersey.com's Andrew Tredinnick. In his three rehab games in the minors with High-A Brooklyn (two starts) and Syracuse, Blackburn has allowed four earned runs on nine hits (two home runs) while walking three and striking out 12 in 8 2/3 innings pitched. The 31-year-old made it through 3 2/3 innings in his last outing at Syracuse and will try to go deeper into the game this Sunday as he works his way back from knee inflammation that surfaced in spring training when he was trying to win a spot in the starting rotation. He had an ERA over 5.00 in five starts for the Mets late last year after being acquired in a trade from the A's, and his season ended early due to a back injury. Blackburn won't be guaranteed a spot in New York's starting rotation when he comes off the injured list.