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How Paul Blackburn has become Yankees' 'go-to-guy' in bullpen
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- How Paul Blackburn has become Yankees' 'go-to-guy' in bullpen
How Paul Blackburn has become Yankees' 'go-to-guy' in bullpen originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Right-handed reliever Paul Blackburn did not impress in his first go-around with the New York Yankees .
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He appeared in eight games with the Yankees in 2025, posting a 5.28 ERA with 16 hits allowed in 15.1 innings.
However, Blackburn's Yankees debut was by far the worst of it. In a blowout loss last August against the Boston Red Sox , he permitted seven earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings.
The 32-year-old allowed just eight hits in his next 12 innings, and the Yankees re-signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Now, Blackburn has emerged as New York's primary setup man when manager Aaron Boone needs three to five of the biggest outs of the game.
"Lastly, Paul Blackburn has suddenly become the go-to guy in pivotal situations prior to the ninth inning, both because he hasn't allowed an earned run across his last 15 appearances and because Fernando Cruz is done for the year," Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote.
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"If he continues compiling holds while the big four starters remain healthy, it's going to be hard to pick against the Yankees, at least until the World Series."
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In 78 innings this season, Blackburn is allowing just six hits per nine innings with a 1.62 ERA.
At this point, he may be the most underrated reliever in the American League.
Without Cruz, the Yankees will need gusty innings from Blackburn in the postseason, but it appears he can handle a tense situation quite well.
