The Oakland A’s activated pitcher Paul Blackburn from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, the team announced. The right-hander will start the evening’s game against the Royals, marking his 2018 debut. To make room on the 25-man roster, catcher Bruce Maxwell was optioned to Triple-A Nashville; to make room on the 40-man squad, outfielder Boog Powell was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day.
Blackburn made 10 starts for the A’s last year as a rookie, but he went down this spring with a forearm strain and missed the first two months of the season.