A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn touched on his start against the Astros after 8-3 loss, and is more worried about being consistent on the mound than getting an All-Star nod this weekend.
Paul Blackburn has been one of the Athletics' best pitchers so far in the 2022 MLB season, and there's a very good chance he will represent the team at Dodger Stadium later this month in the All-Star Game.
But there's a glaring stat that isn't helping his All-Star candidacy, and he's well aware of it.
For as impressive as Blackburn has been this season, he hasn't been good at the Oakland Coliseum, and that trend continued in the A's 8-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night.
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Blackburn lasted just four innings against the Astros as he allowed seven hits and six earned runs.
The home-road splits for Blackburn are startling.
After his latest outing, he now has a 6.75 ERA in 34 2/3 innings over seven starts at home. On the road, the 28-year-old has a 1.28 ERA in 56 1/3 innings over 10 starts.
"They're bad. They're bad," Blackburn said to reporters after the game. "Honestly, it's very frustrating. It's not something I think about out there but every time I come off the mound ... every time I walk off that mound, I feel like I'm not giving our fans what they came to see. They come to see a good game and I go out there and I feel like I just don't give them an enjoyable game to watch, to be honest. I have no clue why. That's something I need to figure out."
Oakland Athletics
While Blackburn might earn his first career All-Star nod when reserves and pitchers are announced on Sunday, his focus is on the A's, who now are 28-57 this season.
"If my name is called, then my name is called," Blackburn told reporters. "I feel like there are other things that I need to worry about right now that's going on in here and going on out on the field. If my name is called, I'll be extremely happy for it."
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Blackburn likely will make one more start before the All-Star break and luckily for him, it is scheduled to come on the road against the Texas Rangers next Wednesday.
