TORONTO — Paul Blackburn was on track to come off the injured list and start Monday when the Mets begin a series against the Toronto Blue Jays. But the day after he made a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse last week, he woke up with tightness in his back. It wasn’t a major cause for concern, but when he couldn’t run the next day, it became a little more concerning.
The Mets opted not to activate him off the IL and instead pitched Tylor Megill on Monday.
“We’re just kind of taking it day-by-day right now,” Blackburn said Monday at Rogers Centre. “We’re just trying to get some things to just calm down and relieve a little bit of the pain.”
Blackburn hasn’t always benefited from the best luck when it comes to injuries, so the right-hander was relieved to find out his wrist was only bruised after he was hit by a line drive two weeks ago in San Diego. Having never dealt with back pain, he hopes this won’t turn into anything serious.
The Mets will give him 48 hours to see if the back issue resolves. If not, he’ll head back to New York for imaging. The best-case scenario is that he misses one start and pitches at some point on this six-game, seven-day road trip.
Blackburn is still able to throw and will continue to do so.
“The weird part is like throwing-wise, it’s there. I feel it, but nothing compared to the running and all that,” Blackburn said. “The deceleration of running, trying to give myself a stop, is what kind of really sets it off.”
CANADIAN HOMECOMING
Two-time former Blue Jays manager and current Mets bench coach John Gibbons reflected on his time in Toronto during his return Monday afternoon. The former skipper was a beloved figure in the city, especially after leading the team to the postseason in 2015, snapping a 20-year playoff drought. The Blue Jays reached the ALCS and were defeated by the Kansas City Royals, the eventual World Series champions.
“It had been such a long drought here,” Gibbons said. “I think we heard about it every year. You get tired of hearing about that. And of course, then I got whacked and left, ended up coming back, and we eventually got there. Everybody had been waiting for that.”
Gibbons praised the job that Carlos Mendoza has been doing with the Mets, saying he’s always thinking a few steps ahead strategically.
Mendoza commended the job Gibbons has done this season helping him and helping keep the clubhouse together. His experience and easygoing personality has endeared him to the Mets.
“He’s been steady,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy that was on my seat for a long time and had a pretty good success. It’s good to see him back here in Toronto. He’s been right there with me through the tough times, and he’s helped keep that room together. Not only the coaches, but with the players as well.”
HONORING ED KRANEPOOL
Mendoza expressed his condolences to Ed Kranepool’s family and Mets fans after his sudden passing Sunday. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Mets decided to honor the longest-tenured player in franchise history with a patch for the 2025 season.
