Nick Blackburn Injury Update: Twins Pitcher Reportedly Ready To Return To Starting Rotation On Tuesday

Minnesota Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn took a positive step forward on Sunday in his recovery from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss a start. Phil Mackey of ESPN 1500 reports Blackburn now expects to return to the starting rotation on Tuesday.

Nick Blackburn threw an "all-out" bullpen today and "doesn't feel a thing" in his shoulder, Ron Gardenhire tells @1500ESPN. Will start Tues.

— Phil Mackey (@PMac21) April 22, 2012

The right-handed Blackburn (0-1, 5.56 ERA) left the mound with stiffness in his shoulder in the sixth inning of last Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers. The injury put a damper on what had been a solid start against the Rangers up until that point. Texas went on to win the game and Blackburn missed his next start.

If Blackburn avoids any further set backs and starts on Tuesday he will face the Boston Red Sox in the middle game of a three-game series at Target Field.

For more on the Twins, head to Twinkie Town. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation.

Minnesota Twins Pitcher Nick Blackburn Will Miss Next Start

Just a day after an MRI of Minnesota Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn's shoulder revealed no damage, Rhett Bollinger reports Blackburn will miss his next start.

#Twins RHP Nick Blackburn will also miss his next start. Playing catch Weds, light bullpen on Fri, full bullpen Sun & possible start Tues

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 16, 2012

Blackburn (0-1, 5.56 ERA) felt tightness in the back of the shoulder Saturday against the Texas Rangers, and he left in the sixth inning. Anthony Swarzak will likely move up to start in Blackburn's place on Thursday. In two starts, Swarzak is 0-2 with an ERA of 3.75 in 12 innings pitched.

The Minnesota Twins begin a four-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday. Carl Pavano is expected to start Monday, followed by Francisco Liriano Tuesday and Jason Marquis on Wednesday.

For more on the Twins, head to Twinkie Town. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation.

Nick Blackburn Injury: MRI On Twins Pitcher Shows No Serious Damage

Key starter Scott Baker has already been lost for the season, and it looked like another Minnesota Twins starting pitcher was about to hit the injury list on Saturday when Nick Blackburn had to leave prematurely in the sixth inning with a shoulder injury.

Given an MRI soon after the game to assess his timetable and the severity, ESPN 1500 Twin Cities broke the triumphant news that Blackburn's MRI revealed no structural damage, and that he could conceivably step back into his normal spot in the rotation next week according to league sources.

It's clear this news represents a huge sigh of relief for Minnesota's organization, as the prospect of losing another important part of the rotation could put this team in a serious early-season bind. The Twins will still play it very safe with Blackburn going forward to avoid the possibility of aggravating or worsening the injury, but this is an encouraging sign for the 30-year-old hurler.

Blackburn has won 39 games over the last four seasons with the Twins, and remains a consistent innings eater as a ground ball specialist in the back of the rotation.

For more on the Twins, head to Twinkie Town. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation.

Nick Blackburn Injury: Twins Starter To Have MRI Saturday

The Minnesota Twins are in a shaky situation as it stands. Not only did they lose 6-2 to the Texas Rangers on Saturday to fall to 0-2 in the three-game series, they lost their starting pitcher, Nick Blackburn, in the sixth inning to an apparent shoulder injury. Blackburn was visibly in pain after throwing a fastball to David Murray in the sixth, and manager Ron Gardenhire, along with trainer Dave Pruemer, pulled him from the game.

Now, according to ESPN Twin Cities, the team sent him to get an MRI and had a quote from general manager Terry Ryan:

"There's some concern," general manager Terry Ryan said. "I'll be able to give you more Sunday morning once I get the results. ... I think it was just a pitch. He cramped up."

The report says that he's scheduled to get an MRI Saturday afternoon and will likely have the results on Sunday. Blackburn did have surgery in October, but looked fine in spring and didn't appear to have any issues. He was stemming the Rangers effectively before leaving the game, and things got away from the Twins just after he had to leave the game.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. You can also head over to SB Nation's main MLB hub at Baseball Nation.

Nick Blackburn Pulled From Start Vs. Rangers Due To Shoulder Injury

Minnesota Twins starter Nick Blackburn had to leave Saturday's start against the Rangers due to an injury, according to 1500 ESPN:

Right-hander Nick Blackburn left Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers with stiffness in the back of his right shoulder.

Blackburn grimaced after throwing a fastball up and away to left-handed batter David Murphy in the top of the sixth inning -- his 79th pitch of the ballgame. Twins trainer Dave Pruemer and manager Ron Gardenhire rushed out to the mound, and after a brief discussion Blackburn was removed from the game.

Blackburn was throwing fairly well through five-plus innings, having allowed two earned runs on seven hits and striking out three opposite just one walk.

The Twins have already lost one starter, Scott Baker, for season due to elbow surgery.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For More on the Texas Rangers, check out Lone Star Ball.You can also head over to SB Nation’s main MLB hub at Baseball Nation or check out SB Nation's YouTube channel.