Blackburn (foot) remains in a walking boot and will likely be reevaluated when the Athletics return to begin their next homestand Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander appears to still be some time away from returning if this latest report is any indication, considering he'll need to presumably go through at least a throwing progression that includes multiple bullpen sessions before being considered for activation. Blackburn's placement on the injured list is retroactive to May 11, but at this point, he appears to be tracking for a mid-June return at the earliest.
Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Lands on IL with foot injury
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Monday with a stress reaction of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot.
He'll be in a walking boot for at least two weeks, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, so Blackburn is set tio require more than a minimum-length stay on the IL. Blackburn had been in line to start Thursday in Houston but will now need to be replaced in the rotation, with recent Triple-A Las Vegas call-up Joey Estes making sense as an alternative.
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Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Hit hard Friday
Rotowire
Blackburn (3-2) took the loss Friday versus the Mariners, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over four-plus innings.
Blackburn cruised through the Mariners' lineup once, but couldn't do it a second time. He ran into trouble in the fourth inning and allowed three straight batters to reach to begin the fifth before Tyler Ferguson was brought on in relief. This is the second time in three outings Blackburn has been hit hard, and it's concerning this one came against an offense as pedestrian as Seattle's. Blackburn has a 4.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 36:13 K:BB through 46 innings across eight starts this season. The right-hander is lined up to make his next start on the road in Houston.
