Barnes allowed a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning in Monday's 5-3 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes was pretty good last season when inheriting runners, stranding 80 percent of the runners he faced -- the big league average was 70 percent -- and will be used frequently to clean up a starter's mess in 2017. But he was unable to provide much help for Rick Porcello on Monday, letting both of the starter's runners to score.

Barnes plans to throw his offspeed stuff more in 2017, something he experimented with during September and October last season, leading to promising results, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

During the first five months of the 2016 season, Barnes threw his four-seamer nearly two-thirds of the time, but adjusted late in the season following a truly disastrous month of August (12 ER in 10.2 IP). He felt his stuff was still good, but the results weren't there. It was at that point he realized the problem was in how he used his stuff. Barnes mixed in more curves and sliders, throwing them as often as the four-seamer, and allowed just one run and no extra-base hits over his final 8.2 innings. While Joe Kelly's transition to the bullpen has garnered most of the headlines, Barnes may be positioned to take a step forward in 2017.

Barnes led Boston's bullpen with 62 appearances in 2016. He finished with a 4.05 ERA while striking out 71 and walking 31 in 66.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes had one really bad month, skewing his overall numbers, but he was entrusted in high-leverage situations, inheriting 51 runners (ninth in MLB) and stranded 40 of them. He should remain in a middle-relief role with stretches of set up work in 2017.

Barnes allowed two hits and an inherited runner to score in two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday night's win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes was dreadful in August when he allowed 12 runs in 10.2 innings and appeared to be pitching himself out of high-leverage situations as well as any discussion about the postseason makeup of the bullpen. But with the roster expansion, manager John Farrell has been able use him less frequently and get him some rest. While Tuesday's performance wasn't ideal, it was his eighth straight scoreless outing and the rest he's gotten this month puts him in a better position for October baseball.

Barnes allowed three inherited runners to score and was charged with five runs allowed without getting an out in Sunday night's 10-4 loss to the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes showed much promise over the first four months of the season, but his season has been undermined by a terrible August. He's allowed 12 runs on 12 hits and six walks in 9.2 innings this month. Once considered a possible eighth-inning option, Barnes appears lost. "I think I'm at the point now where I need to sit down and re-evaluate what I'm doing," Barnes told Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. "This is probably one of those portions of your career where you've been in the league long enough where teams have a lot of video and have seen you pitch. They're adjusting to you."

Barnes pitched 2.1 innings Tuesday in Baltimore after starter Eduardo Rodriguez exited early with a hamstring injury. He gave up two runs on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts, but came away with no decision when the rest of the Red Sox bullpen blew their 3-0 lead in the seventh inning.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes left two inherited runners on first and second when he departed with one out in the seventh, and Fernando Abad turned those into the two runs on his ledger by allowing both to cross home plate on a Matt Wieters single. The 26-year-old would've likely been in line for his fourth win after picking up right where Rodriguez left off.

Barnes, one day after picking up the first save of his career, was tagged for three runs on three hits in a third of an inning in Wednesday night's 9-4 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes was the first of a string of relievers that served up eight runs on eight hits over the course of the seventh and eighth innings Wednesday, delivering another gut-punching loss to Boston. Barnes has done a lot of good out of the pen this season for Boston, but there are times when his high-90s fastball doesn't waver. When that happens, major league hitters can make him pay.

Barnes entered a 5-3 game against the Yankees with two outs in the ninth and struck out the final hitter to earn his first save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

Regular closer Craig Kimbrel had been pitching the ninth but was surprisingly ineffective, recording just two outs on 37 pitches and walking in a run before being removed in favor of Barnes. After the game it turned out that Kimbrel was dealing with knee soreness in the same knee that landed him on the DL earlier this summer. Brad Ziegler would seem to be the replacement closer should Kimbrel miss time, but Barnes has been solid this season, with a 2.98 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.

Barnes tossed three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two in Wednesday night's 11-7 win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox were on the verge of blowing an eight-run lead when Barnes entered in the sixth inning with the bases loaded, no outs, and Boston clinging to an 8-7 lead. He got a double-play grounder and foul out to extricate the Red Sox from that jam, then held the Giants at bay the next two innings. The outing continues a nice stretch for the right-hander, who has a 1.56 ERA with a 17:2 K:BB ratio over his last 12 appearances, spanning 17.1 innings. As the Red Sox cope with injuries in the bullpen, Barnes has earned the confidence and trust of manager John Farrell. He may not get any save opportunities while Craig Kimbrel (knee) and Koji Uehara (pectoral muscle) are out -- Brad Ziegler is the primary closer while they rehab -- but Barnes has earned a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations.

Barnes pitched a scoreless eighth inning in Boston's 4-1 win over the Rays on Saturday. He's made three straight scoreless appearances.

EDGE Analysis

Red Sox manager John Farrell will have to rely on Barnes as he attempts to manage the turbulence in a bullpen that's been hit with injuries to Junichi Tazawa (shoulder) and Craig Kimbrel (knee). Farrell has recently shown more faith in Barnes, who has whittled his ERA from 3.64 to 2.93 over the last 10 appearances (14 strikeouts, two walks, 12.1 innings). He may be able steal a save opportunity during the time Kimbrel is on the DL (three-to-six weeks), but the Red Sox will settle for keeping his walks down and providing stability in a set up role.