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HOUSTON — Paul Blackburn isn’t anticipating much of a stay on the Mets’ injured list, if any, beyond the minimum 15 days for a pitcher.
The right-hander plans to resume throwing Sunday, seven days after he received a gel injection in his right knee.
Blackburn had swelling in the knee following his final spring training appearance last Saturday.
“Everything we got back from it was good news and everything has progressed really well,” Blackburn said Friday before the Mets’ 3-1 win over the Astros at Daikin Park. “Right now, it’s just waiting those seven days to rotate it again.”
Blackburn was set to begin the season in the bullpen in a multi-inning role.
His IL stint allowed Max Kranick and Huascar Brazoban to open the season on the major league roster. The two were competing for one spot before Blackburn’s injury.
Blackburn described the ailment as a “little bit of cartilage that seemed a little pissed off.”
Team brass is considering Blackburn for a starting role once the Mets shift to a six-man rotation, likely on the next road trip.
Blackburn had surgery last offseason to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak but began spring training on time.
Tyrone Taylor (0-for-4) started in center field for a second straight game, with Jose Siri on the bench.
Manager Carlos Mendoza cited right-hander Hunter Brown’s arsenal and the movement on his pitches for wanting to start Taylor again.
Siri is a free swinger prone to strikeouts.
Mendoza said there is a “good chance” Siri will start Saturday in center field.
Brazoban gave the Mets 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in the Mets’ 3-1 loss on Thursday, a fact that wasn’t overlooked by Mendoza.
The lengthened appearance became necessary after Clay Holmes was removed with two outs in the fifth.
“The fact [Brazoban] was able to do that and pretty much save some of the other guys for today and for the rest of the series, he was huge,” Mendoza said.
Blade Tidwell allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over five innings against Worcester in the season opener for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
The right-hander, who is among the Mets’ top pitching prospects, was removed after 62 pitches.
