Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn hadn't started a major league game in more than nine months, last pitching on Aug. 23, 2024. The 31-year-old worked his way back from multiple injuries and got his opportunity on Monday night in Los Angeles against the star-studded Dodgers lineup.
While the challenge against LA would be intimidating to any pitcher, not just in your first game of the season, it didn't phase Blackburn.
"It feels good," Blackburn said. "To come in here with the energy that was just out there during the game. Being able to just keep us ahead there when [Francisco] Lindor hit that homer to start the game. The biggest thing for me was just, 'How quick can I get them back in that dugout?' Kinda just keep the momentum on our side."
He threw five scoreless innings with three strikeouts, including two against reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani. Blackburn got Ohtani out all three times, forcing him into an inning-ending groundout with runners on first and second base in the fifth inning. After the 4-3 win, Blackburn said he and catcher Francisco Alvarez had a strong game plan and stuck to it. He also noted past experiences against Ohtani in the AL West and used that to his advantage.
"I think really our game plan coming in was cutter, curveball, changeup. Probably leaned on those a lot tonight," Blackburn said. "Not very often to you go against a lineup like that and not have to kind of go to your second option, your plan B. I think in between innings, just the way Alvy and I communicated all night, I feel like we trusted in our plan and we didn't let off."
Overall, Blackburn allowed three hits with a walk over 77 pitches (49 for strikes). He didn't throw any fastballs in the outing against a lefty-heavy Dodgers lineup, noting he "can’t really rely on a single pitch" and used the cutter to his advantage instead.
"He was really good," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "I thought he attacked the zone, used all of his pitches. I thought the cutter was good, the sinker was good against righties, the changeup kept those guys off balance, guessing. He was pitch efficient to be honest with you.
"Obviously we didn’t make a play that extended that inning in the fifth inning, but overall against a pretty good lineup obviously for him to be out there for the first time after so much time that he missed, unbelievable job there."
Although, Blackburn's future appears to be heading to the bullpen with pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas nearing returns. Manaea threw 29 pitches in a live bullpen on Monday that "went well," while Montas is expected to throw his third rehab start on Tuesday, Mendoza said on Saturday.
"Gotta wait and see, but there’s a good chance he will go back to the bullpen for now and then we’ll go from there," Mendoza said.
Blackburn feels prepared for the new role and will be ready to pitch whenever his name is called.
"I would say yeah," Blackburn said. "I think my role here is a little different and I’m just gonna be ready to pitch when they want me to pitch. I’m not blind to the guys that are coming off the IL here soon and just being able to take the ball whenever they want me to take the ball."
