Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Saturday that the club wants a little more time before making a decision. Blackburn has been on the shelf since spring training working his way back from knee inflammation. The 31-year-old veteran has already made five rehab starts in the minors. New York’s rotation has been the best in baseball through the first seven weeks of the season, so it’s unclear what type of role Blackburn will have once he returns. It’s a classy problem for the Mets to have.

Blackburn has already made four rehab starts, so he will need to be reinstated from the injured list after his start on Friday. As of now, there is no room in the Mets’ rotation, so the most likely outcome is that Blackburn would serve as a multi-inning reliever, which could bump Dedniel Nunez back to the minors.

Blackburn lost out of a rotation spot and was expected to open up in middle relief before the news came down yesterday that he was IL bound. Max Kranick figures to take on Blackburn’s innings.

It’s yet another lost starter for the Mets, who are also going to be without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas due to their injuries to open 2025. There’s no timetable yet for when Blackburn will be ready to return.