Nick Blackburn was pounded for seven runs -- six earned -- in 4 1/3 innings Saturday in a loss to the A's. Are the Twins sure they wouldn't rather be sellers? They're seven games under .500 again now after dropping this one 8-3. Blackburn has been shelled twice in a row, leaving him 7-8 with a 4.49 ERA. Since he can go into extended slumps, AL-only leaguers may want to sit down him for a bit.

Nick Blackburn served up dessert to a hungry Rangers offense on Monday, yielding nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits in only 2 2/3 innings. Blackburn got into trouble in each frame, as Texas scored three runs in each inning. It's been feast or famine for the right-hander in his last six starts. He's certainly a rebound candidate next weekend against the Athletics.

Nick Blackburn allowed just four hits in seven scoreless innings of work on Friday, but lost his win when Matt Capps blew his seventh save in Minnesota's 2-1 loss to the Royals. Blackburn struck out three and walked two in his first quality start in four outings. Despite the bitter ending, the excellent evening lowers Blackburn's ERA to 3.99 and WHIP to 1.41. He'll get the Indians at home next week.

Nick Blackburn surrendered five runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings but lasted long enough to pick up his seventh win in an 8-5 victory over the White Sox. Blackburn was far from good, but, luckily for him, Gavin Floyd was even worse. It's his third straight horrible outing, as he's permitted 18 runs while failing to go more than five frames in any start over the stretch. He now has a 4.24 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the year. The Twins have almost always maintained faith in Blackburn even when he's pitched poorly, but we can't help but think Kevin Slowey is a better option at this point.

Nick Blackburn allowed six runs on six hits in four innings of work on Sunday afternoon, taking a no-decision in Minnesota's 9-7 win over the Brewers. He struck out two and walked one. Blackburn has now allowed 14 runs (13 earned) in just 8 1/3 innings of work over his past two starts, ballooning his 3.15 ERA to 4.02. Never a good bet to hold his mixed-league value, Blackburn is probably best limited to AL-only formats going forward.

Nick Blackburn didn't have it on Monday, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings of Minnesota's embarrassing 15-0 loss to the Dodgers at home. Just like that, the Twins have dropped six in a row to fall back to 13 games below .500. Blackburn was one of five Twins pitchers this evening, four of which allowed at least two runs. The dismal outing ballooned his 3.15 ERA to 3.64 through his first 101 1/3 innings of work. His first chance to get back on track will come this Sunday against the Brewers.

Nick Blackburn allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks in six innings on Wednesday, taking the loss in Minnesota's 5-1 setback against the Giants. He struck out four. The non-quality start was Blackburn's first in three outings. Now 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, he'll get the Dodgers at home his next time out.

Nick Blackburn pitched eight scoreless innings as part of the Twins' 1-0 victory over the White Sox on Thursday. Blackburn struck out just one, but he got 17 outs on the ground today. It's the fourth time in 14 starts this season that he's managed to avoid giving up a homer. In those outings, he has a 0.66 ERA.