ARLINGTON, Texas - Paul Blackburn, the local kid who was so impressive in his first stint with the A’s last year, will make his first start of the season Thursday.
Blackburn, who is recovering from a right forearm strain that has sidelined hm since mid-March, will be limited to about 75 pitches; he has not thrown more than 50 in a rehab outing. He was 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 starts with Oakland last year before being struck on the hand by a comebacker in August, ending his season.
The Brentwood native will be on the mound when the A’s face Kansas City on Thursday night at the Coliseum.