OAKLAND -- Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn threw off flat ground again on Friday and could get on a mound during the team's six-game homestand, which began Friday vs. the Orioles.
Blackburn has been on the disabled list since late March with a strained right forearm. He recently began throwing from 90 feet and continues to make progress, a promising sign for a pitcher who was a contender for one of the final two spots Oakland's rotation coming out of Spring Training.
The next step for the 24-year-old pitcher, who grew up about 30 minutes from the Coliseum, will be throwing off a mound in a bullpen session.