Paul Blackburn emerges as a key relief pitcher for the New York Yankees

Paul Blackburn has become a central figure in the New York Yankees bullpen during the 2026 season. The 32-year-old right-hander has recorded a 7-2 record with a 1.62 ERA across 54 appearances, including two starts. This performance follows his acquisition from the New York Mets, where he previously struggled with a 6.85 ERA in seven appearances. Blackburn is currently riding a streak of 15 appearances without allowing an earned run. He has assumed a primary role in high-leverage situations preceding the ninth inning, particularly following the season-ending injury to teammate Fernando Cruz. While his current peripherals remain modest, including 7.4 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings, his consistency has provided the team with necessary stability in late-game scenarios.

• 4:46 AMYahoo Sports — Yankees Have ‘Most Underrated Reliever in the American League’