Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn moves to the injured list after another injury

SAN DIEGO – Paul Blackburn's throwing practice on Sunday showed him that he will not be ready for his next assignment in the rotation.

The Mets placed the right-hander on the injured list two days after he blocked a line drive with his right hand and suffered a bruise.

Right now, Blackburn's spot on the roster belongs to Huascar Brazoban, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to provide the team with an additional reliever.

Tylor Megill will be recalled from Syracuse sometime this week to start in Blackburn's place.

With the Mets having a day off on Monday, they have the option of bringing David Peterson back into action on Thursday after his usual rest against the Diamondbacks and having Megill start against the White Sox next weekend.

Megill struggled with the Mets this season, posting a 5.17 ERA in 10 appearances for the team.

He was recently cut from the Major League roster after Blackburn arrived from Oakland last month.

Blackburn said he appeared stiff and sore while playing catch on Sunday and will use the next two weeks to heal the inflammation in his hand.

Blackburn was hit in the hand by David Peralta's 100-mile line hit while shielding his head on Friday and was forced to leave the field in the third inning.

For Blackburn, this is the latest setback in what has been a frustrating season so far: a stress reaction in his right foot caused him to miss two and a half months as a pitcher for the Athletics.

“I had eight starts at the beginning of the year and ended up breaking my foot. Then I came back and had five starts,” Blackburn said. “I feel like I haven't been able to get into a rhythm or a routine and get a chance to help a team get into the playoffs and then get a line drive off my hands, so it's a little frustrating.”

Mendoza had hoped Brazoban would get a “reset” in Syracuse – the manager was concerned about the way the right-hander had responded to his recent struggles – but the reliever never left the team on Friday (in case the Mets had to place Blackburn on the injured list) after being optioned to make room on the roster for Dedniel Nunez.