New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn will open the season on the injured list with knee inflammation.Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters Wednesday that Blackburn will be shut down for 7 to 10 days but that he expects him back in April.Blackburn was set to open the season in the bullpen, beat out by Griffin Canning to make the starting rotation. Blackburn went 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five spring starts.He made five starts for the Mets in 2024 after being traded from Oakland. Blackburn landed on the 15-day injured list with a bruised hand on Aug. 25. The Mets shut him down in mid-September after a cerebrospinal leak was discovered.Blackburn, 31, is 22-28 with a 4.85 ERA in 86 career games (82 starts) in eight seasons for the A’s and Mets.