OAKLAND, Calif. -- When Paul Blackburn was recalled from Triple-A Nashville, the Oakland Athletics didn't know what to expect.
After his first seven starts, they can't wait to see more.
Blackburn (3-1, 2.60 ERA) will take the mound Friday night to oppose Baltimore veteran Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7, 6.31) as the teams play the second contest of a four-game series.
The 23-year-old right-hander, who grew up in nearby Antioch, Calif., is coming off his most impressive outing, Saturday: He went the first 6 2/3 innings of a combined 5-0 shutout of the Los Angeles Angels.