The Oakland A's recalled right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn from Triple-A Nashville and optioned right-handed pitcher Josh Smith to Nashville, the club announced today.
Blackburn was 5-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) with Nashville. He ranks second in the Pacific Coast League in ERA and fourth in opponents batting average (.231). The 23-year-old left-hander is 4-2 with a 1.84 ERA over his last eight starts after going 1-4 with a 4.54 ERA over his first seven games (six starts). Blackburn is scheduled to make his Major League debut in a start today against Atlanta.
Blackburn was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs as a supplemental pick following the first round of the 2012 draft but was traded twice in 2016. He was sent to the Mariners prior to the trading deadline in the Mike Montgomery deal and was traded to the A's following the season for Danny Valencia. A graduate of Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif., Blackburn is 34-23 with a 3.21 ERA in 105 games (99 starts) in six professional seasons.
Smith was selected from Nashville May 3 and had no decisions, a 6.75 ERA and .292 opponents batting average in 18 relief appearances with Oakland. He struck out 15 and walked 12 in 24.0 innings. Smith is 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA and .146 opponents batting average in nine relief appearances with the Sounds.