Mets' Paul Blackburn returns looking better than ever in win over Dodgers

New York Times

2 days ago

For the final time Monday night, New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn pulled from his scouting report on Shohei Ohtani, memories of first-hand experience from their shared time in the same division. Judging from how Blackburn pitched to Ohtani, it's likely the prep work strongly suggested to locate cutters up and in, offer changeups low and out of the strike zone. For the third time using that formula, Blackburn retired Ohtani, who hit a routine grounder with two runners on base to end the fifth inning.
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Blackburn is typically reserved and soft-spoken. But after recording the final out of the fifth inning, which concluded his outing, he slapped his glove in triumph. While walking to the dugout with his head down, he briefly shouted to himself. Given Blackburn's path, some show of emotion, even for a 31-year-old veteran, seemed only natural.
After waiting nine months since his last appearance in the major leagues, Blackburn blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers for five innings in the Mets' 4-3 win.
Blackburn last pitched in a major-league game on Aug. 23, 2024. In that game, he was struck by a comebacker and landed on the injured list. From there, he missed the rest of the 2024 season due to a spinal leak in his back. He did not know if he would pitch again. After surgery, however, he entered spring training as a healthy player. Then came what he said was the worst part: right knee inflammation in late March resulting in a trip to the injured list, where he stayed until Monday (along the way, he also got sick, delaying an earlier return).
'For him to be out there after so much time that he missed, unbelievable job there,' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Welcome back, Blackburn!@moomooApp | #LGM pic.twitter.com/LJVXCDgROc
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 3, 2025
In line with the overall upswing of the Mets' pitching staff this season, Blackburn returned looking better than before.
Despite being sidelined, Blackburn gained movement on all of his pitches.
Also, he pitched smarter, and not just against Ohtani, who struck out twice against him.
Blackburn leaned on his cutter, curveball and changeup. He did not throw a single four-seam fastball, a pitch he used to throw about 20 percent of the time. He didn't throw a four-seamer in his final rehab appearance, either. That is not a coincidence. The thinking for Blackburn and the Mets is, why should he mess with throwing a four-seamer, a pitch batters slugged .694 in plate appearances that ended against it last season, when his cutter is good?
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Under pitching coach Jeremy Hefner's guidance, the Mets' pitching staff owns the best ERA (2.88) in MLB. They are rolling to such an extent that they didn't merely survive by plugging in a sixth starter making his season debut against the defending World Series champion — they succeeded.
Blackburn, who attacked the strike zone and pitched efficiently, allowed just three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
The Mets called on Blackburn to give their starters, notably Kodai Senga, an extra day of rest while in a stretch of 10 straight games. His stay in the rotation is not expected to last longer than Monday. He is likely to slide into a long relief role.
'There's a good chance he goes back to the bullpen for now, and we'll go from there,' Mendoza said.
Even after a strong first start back, the Mets don't need Blackburn in the rotation. New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns' pitching plan is working. Stearns went into last offseason with a preference on adding to his starting pitching depth. He steered away from long-term contracts, didn't last long in the most expensive aisle for pitchers during free agency. The Mets (38-22) have played all season without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their two top pitching acquisitions from the winter. Montas, who has made two rehab starts, may return by the end of June and Manaea is behind him after just recently starting to face batters.
Blackburn said he is willing and ready to pitch in whatever role the club needs.
'I'm not blind to the guys who are coming off the IL here soon,' Blackburn said.
The downside of relying on depth in the way the Mets do is they will likely need to make roster moves for their bullpen. With six starters, even temporarily, the bullpen is down a pitcher until Blackburn is rested enough to appear in relief. After a 10-inning game on Monday, it would likely be challenging to get through the next six games before the next off day without fresh arms.
The Mets are proving that the upside, at least right now, is hard to argue against.
(Jason Parkhurst/Imagn Images)