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Paul Blackburn gave a stellar performance during the latest spring outing, marking a pivotal moment for him this year. After struggling with a spinal fluid leak injury in the previous season, Blackburn returned to the mound showing promise, allowing no hits and striking out two batters over four innings. He effectively utilized a diverse pitch arsenal, combining pitches like his sinker and changeup in clever ways, which generated optimistic discussions about his role in the Mets' rotation. Despite fan skepticism regarding Blackburn's place in the starting lineup, today's performance might be a sign of a reliable backend starter.