Paul Blackburn

Active

New York Yankees · Pitcher

Age 326' 1" · 196 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

At 32 years old, Blackburn arrives in the Bronx as a veteran innings-eater looking to rebuild his fantasy value after a rough 2025 campaign. His early 2026 numbers show promise with a sharp 2.50 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 39.2 innings, suggesting he's rediscovered his form as a reliable mid-rotation starter in the Yankees' rotation. With an AL All-Star selection in his resume from 2022, he offers stability in ERA and WHIP categories for fantasy managers willing to bank on his bounce-back narrative, though his limited strikeout pace (27 K in 39.2 IP) makes him a complementary rather than elite fantasy arm. The primary risk lies in durability and win totals—his age and recent injury history mean consistent run support will be crucial to accumulating victories in a Yankees lineup that should provide plenty of offensive firepower.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2017	Oakland Athletics	10	10	3	1	0	3.22	1.26	22	58.2	16
2018	Oakland Athletics	6	6	2	3	0	7.16	1.41	19	27.2	6
2019	Oakland Athletics	4	1	0	2	0	10.64	2.09	8	11.0	4
2020	Oakland Athletics	1	1	0	1	0	27.00	3.00	2	2.1	2
2021	Oakland Athletics	9	9	1	4	0	5.87	1.62	26	38.1	10
2022	Oakland Athletics	21	21	7	6	0	4.28	1.26	89	111.1	30
2023	Oakland Athletics	21	20	4	7	0	4.43	1.54	104	103.2	43
2024	2 teams▼	14	14	5	4	0	4.66	1.29	59	75.1	21
2025	2 teams▼	15	4	0	3	1	6.23	1.51	34	39.0	12
2026	New York Yankees	29	1	2	1	0	2.28	1.15	31	43.1	14
Career	Totals	130	87	24	32	1	4.74	1.39	394	510.2	158

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2012	AZL Cubs	9	6	2	0	3.48	1.45	13	20.2	7
2013	Boise Hawks	13	12	2	3	3.33	1.52	38	46.0	29
2014	Kane County Cougars	24	24	9	4	3.23	1.19	75	117.0	31
2015	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	18	18	7	5	3.11	1.24	63	89.2	22
2016	2 teams▼	26	25	9	5	3.27	1.21	99	143.0	35
2017	Nashville Sounds	15	14	5	6	3.05	1.19	56	79.2	26
2018	Stockton Ports	1	1	0	0	7.36	2.45	1	3.2	1
2019	Las Vegas Aviators	24	22	11	3	4.34	1.26	92	132.2	34
2021	Las Vegas Aviators	17	16	4	7	4.97	1.59	80	88.2	27
2023	2 teams▼	6	6	0	0	7.50	2.17	10	18	6
2024	3 teams▼	3	2	1	1	5.40	1.70	6	10.0	4
2025	4 teams▼	12	12	5	3	3.09	1.12	56	55.1	19
Career	Totals	169	158	55	37	3.76	1.31	590	805	243

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo94.3 mph

Avg Spin2256 rpm

Whiff %21.1%

K %17.8%

BB %8.0%

Hard Hit %33.6%

Barrel %6.3%

xERA3.59

xBA Against0.242

xSLG Against0.356

BA Against0.226

SLG Against0.308

GB%57.0%

FB%21.1%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2017

Oakland Athletics

3.22

1.26

58.2

2018

Oakland Athletics

7.16

1.41

27.2

2019

Oakland Athletics

10.64

2.09

11.0

2020

Oakland Athletics

27.00

3.00

2.1

2021

Oakland Athletics

5.87

1.62

38.1

2022

Oakland Athletics

4.28

1.26

111.1

2023

Oakland Athletics

4.43

1.54

104

103.2

2024

2 teams▼

4.66

1.29

75.1

2025

2 teams▼

6.23

1.51

39.0

2026

New York Yankees

2.28

1.15

43.1

Career

Totals

130

4.74

1.39

394

510.2

158

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2012

AZL Cubs

3.48

1.45

20.2

2013

Boise Hawks

3.33

1.52

46.0

2014

Kane County Cougars

3.23

1.19

117.0

2015

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

3.11

1.24

89.2

2016

2 teams▼

3.27

1.21

143.0

2017

Nashville Sounds

3.05

1.19

79.2

2018

Stockton Ports

7.36

2.45

3.2

2019

Las Vegas Aviators

4.34

1.26

132.2

2021

Las Vegas Aviators

4.97

1.59

88.2

2023

2 teams▼

7.50

2.17

2024

3 teams▼

5.40

1.70

10.0

2025

4 teams▼

3.09

1.12

55.1

Career

Totals

169

158

3.76

1.31

590

805

243