SAN DIEGO — Paul Blackburn fell to the ground, clearly shaken, after a high-speed line drive struck his pitching hand. While the game continued, Blackburn sat on the pitcher’s mound, his legs spread out, as trainers and coaches attended to him. Eventually, he walked off the field.
Initial X-rays were “inconclusive,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, and Blackburn will have additional tests on Saturday to rule out fractures. His abrupt departure during the Mets’ 7-0 defeat to the Padres at Petco Park not only left the team in a tough spot but also raised concerns about future rotation plans. Despite some inconsistency since joining the Mets at the Trade Deadline, Blackburn had been a reliable innings-eater.
The Mets are uncertain about Blackburn’s recovery time.
They’ll have a clearer picture after Saturday’s CT scan in San Diego to check for fractures.
Typically, fractures require about six weeks to heal, and given that Blackburn injured his pitching hand, a break could end his season.
Even if there’s no fracture, the impact from the line drive, which struck Blackburn in the third inning from David Peralta, was painful. Blackburn described the feeling after the game as “not great,” noting swelling and pain but retaining full mobility in his wrist and hand.If Blackburn is sidelined, who will step in?Mendoza mentioned the team has several minor league options, with Tylor Megill being the most likely candidate. Megill, who frequently moves between Triple-A Syracuse and the majors, pitched into the eighth inning of his latest start, striking out 11 batters.With top prospect Brandon Sproat struggling in Triple-A and other young pitchers like Mike Vasil, Dom Hamel, and Blade Tidwell inconsistent, Megill is in a strong position to replace Blackburn if needed.
Longer-term, rookie Christian Scott might also make a return in September, regardless of Blackburn’s status. Scott, who is currently dealing with a sprained UCL in his right elbow, has recently increased his throwing distance and added offspeed pitches to his routine. The Mets will need to see how Scott performs on the mound before determining if surgery can be avoided.
Before his injury, Blackburn struggled, giving up 10 hits and recording only seven outs. His performance included a leadoff homer by Luis Arraez, a two-run shot by Kyle Higashioka, and several other hits, far exceeding the support needed for Padres starter Joe Musgrove.
Blackburn described his outing as “not good,” noting that both his good and bad pitches were hit.
Aside from Blackburn, Luis Severino and Sean Manaea have been pitching well, and David Peterson has been effective despite a high walk rate. The main issue has been Jose Quintana, who has an 8.27 ERA in August, leading to speculation about his potential replacement.
With Blackburn’s injury, the Mets’ depth is even more strained, complicating the search for a replacement.
Mendoza commented on potential replacements: “It’s too early to tell.”
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