The Mets are facing a deepening crisis in their pitching lineup as injuries continue to mount, sidelining two more players on Thursday.
Before the final game of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Mets announced that pitcher Paul Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 30 due to a right shoulder impingement. Relief pitcher Dedniel Nunez was also put on the 15-day IL with a right elbow sprain.
Both players have spent substantial time injured this season, impacting the team for only a few weeks.
Blackburn had been out since spring training due to knee inflammation, which delayed his return. He did not pitch in 2025 until June 2, when he delivered five scoreless innings against the Dodgers.
Initially missing a spot in the starting rotation to Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, Blackburn, 31, was expected to be a bullpen asset. However, with Megill and Canning out — the latter missing the rest of the season with an Achilles rupture — alongside Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea nearing returns from injuries, Blackburn’s role expanded. In six appearances, including four starts, he had a 0-3 record with a 7.71 ERA, allowing 17 runs (16 earned) in subsequent games.
Nunez appeared in just 10 games this season after recovering from a previous elbow injury. Making his season debut on May 5, he was sent to Triple-A after six walks in 3.2 innings. He returned on June 22, posting a 3.00 ERA over six innings, including a scoreless two-thirds of the sixth inning in the Mets’ 7-3 victory over Milwaukee.
To compensate for these losses, the Mets called up right-handers Justin Hagenman and Rico Garcia from the minors.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com