Barrett will begin a rehab assignment at High-A Potomac on Wednesday, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports. Barrett is working back from a strained right bicep, which sent him to the DL back on June 12. He remains without a firm timetable, but he shouldn't require more than a handful of rehab appearances.

Barrett (biceps) was throwing off flat ground from about 90 feet with a trainer looking on Thursday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports. Barrett was placed on the disabled list June 12 with the biceps injury, but appears to be making decent progress. He's still got more steps before going on a rehab assignment, at which point he'll near a return to the bullpen.

Barrett was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday with a biceps strain, Todd Dybas of The Washington Times reports. Barrett left Thursday's game against the Brewers with an apparent arm injury, and Friday it was confirmed that he suffered a biceps strain in his throwing arm. There's no exact timetable for Barrett's return at this point, but Washington activated recently acquired David Carpenter in a corresponding move.

Barrett exited Thursday's game against Brewers with an apparent injury, Dan Kolko of MASN reports. Barrett was hovering around 93 mph with his fastball and 85 mph with his slider, both near enough his usual velocities to think he was pitching healthy earlier. We should know more about the issue later in the night or Friday.

Barrett gave up two runs on two hits in the seventh inning Sunday to get the loss against the Reds, retiring just one batter. The Nats' bullpen really struggled this weekend, without ever getting the game to Drew Storen. Casey Janssen got the loss Saturday, and the combination of Barrett and Matt Grace faltered Sunday. Matt Thornton has been more of a lefty specialist, but if Barrett and Janssen continue to falter he might be asked to work the eighth inning in full.

Barrett got the final two outs on Friday for the Nationals, allowing one hit and striking out one. The hit, a Martin Prado single with runners on the corners, did allow the winning run to score, although the loss ended up on Tanner Roark's ledger. Barrett now has an impressive 1.17 ERA and 11:2 K:BB ratio through 7.2 innings, and would likely be first in line for save opportunities should anything happen to Drew Storen.

Barrett picked up the win on Sunday, striking out two in a perfect ninth as the Nationals beat the Phillies in 10 innings. He's off to a good start to the season, racking up a 5:1 K:BB ratio through three games and 2.2 innings. Should Drew Storen falter as the Nationals' closer, Barrett would likely be the next man up, but for now fantasy owners will have to be content with holds and the occasional vultured win from Barrett.

Barrett has posted a 1.23 ERA with a weak 3:3 K:BB ratio through 7.1 spring innings. He came into the offseason likely ticketed for a key role as part of the Nationals' set-up brigade, but the signing of Casey Janssen and an impressive performance from Blake Treinen this spring may have bumped Barrett back into middle relief. Even if you're looking for a handcuff for Drew Storen, you might be better off leaving Barrett on the waiver wire until his role becomes clearer.

Barrett could be in line for a much bigger role in the Nationals' bullpen after the club dealt Tyler Clippard on Wednesday. With both Clippard and Rafael Soriano no longer around, there are plenty of vacancies for right-handed set-up men behind closer Drew Storen. Barrett and Blake Treinen are the in-house favorites, but GM Mike Rizzo could still bring in another arm or two before spring training.

Barrett pitched a perfect seventh inning on Saturday as the Nationals downed the Marlins 3-2. With Drew Storen moving into the closer role for the struggling Rafael Soriano, Barrett has inherited Storen's seventh inning gig and done well with it, tossing six scoreless innings over eight appearances since being called back up in September while scattering three hits with a 5:1 K:BB ratio. Barrett could end up being an important part of the Nats' post-season bullpen.