Barnes allowed one run on four hits while striking out four over 2.2 innings in Friday night's win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox had many heroes in overcoming the 6-0 hole that starter David Price put them in, but a comeback would not have been possible if not for the work of their beleaguered bullpen. And that started with Barnes, keeping them in the game from the third to fifth inning. He's primarily a middle-inning guy who can give Boston length when needed -- he's tossed 6.2 innings his last three appearances -- and can dial up the fastball. If he limits the homers and can locate more consistently, Barnes will make a living in this role.

Barnes pitched a perfect ninth inning Tuesday, striking out two in Boston's 8-3 win over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

Coming in for a clean inning with a five-run lead is pretty low-leverage stuff, but Barnes was impressive Tuesday, hitting 99 mph on the gun while mowing down the heart of the Rockies' order on two Ks and a weak come-backer. The right-hander has been entrusted in more high-leverage spots of late -- he's stranded all but one of 14 inherited runners -- and has not allowed a run in eight of his last 10 appearances. At a time when Boston learned it will be without Carson Smith (Tommy John surgery) for the rest of the season, manager John Farrell is expected to lean more on Barnes for setup work.

Barnes entered Sunday's game in the fourth inning and pitched two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk in a 7-5 extra-inning win over Houston.

EDGE Analysis

Boston's unreliable starting pitching reared itself again Sunday -- this time, it was Henry Owens failing to get out of the fourth -- requiring the bullpen to shoulder a heavy load. Barnes' performance has been uneven to start the season. Overall, he's allowed five runs (three earned) on 12 hits and six walks in 10.1 innings, and has had difficulty staying around the plate, throwing 55 percent of his pitches for strikes. That's not good for the long-term sustainability of a reliever, even one that can throw in the mid-to-high 90s.

Barnes pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in Wednesday's loss to the Indians. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes was dazzling during spring training and was a no-brainer replacement for the injured Carson Smith (forearm). He has the high-velocity fastball that could play in a set-up role, but the former starter can also pitch multiple innings when a starter doesn't get deep into a game, as was the case Wednesday with Clay Buchholz. As a reliever in 2015, the UConn grad struck out 51 batters in 50.1 innings.

Barnes has won a spot in Boston's bullpen, the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager John Farrell made the announcement Wednesday, but anyone that's been watching spring training knew Barnes was going to make the team. The right-hander allowed one run while striking out 13 in 12.1 innings. He might have made the roster even if there weren't injuries to Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) and Carson Smith (forearm). Barnes will pick up some set up work, but also has multi-inning capability.

Barnes pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out two in Friday's game against Pittsburgh.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes appears to have locked up the spot in the bullpen that became available when it was announced Carson Smith (forearm) would open the season on the disabled list. The right-hander with the high-90s fastball may have earned the spot with an injury to another player, as he hasn't allowed a run with an 11:1 K:BB rate in 10.1 spring innings. The key to his success is a tighter curveball he can throw for strikes, making his high-velo heater more effective.

Barnes appears to be a good bet to make the roster after it was announced Carson Smith will begin the season on the disabled list with a forearm injury, the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Smith injury means at least one bullpen spot opens up with another one cropping up if Steven Wright moves into the starting rotation for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez (knee). Barnes, who hasn't allowed a run and struck out nine in 8.1 spring innings, appeared to be on pace to claim a roster spot due to the Rodriguez injury and now looks like a lock to head north. The right-handed Barnes is getting stretched out for multiple relief innings, suggesting a fifth or sixth inning role, but he has wicked heat that could play as a setup guy.

Barnes threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief Thursday, allowing two hits and striking out one against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes has pitched seven scoreless frames this spring with eight strikeouts and one walk in five appearances. The conventional wisdom at the start of camp was that Barnes would open the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, but with a fill-in, such as Steven Wright or Roenis Elias, needed for Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) in the rotation, an opening for multi-inning reliever may be opening up.

Barnes struck out two batters during a 1-2-3 appearance out of the bullpen in Monday's game against the Pirates, the Boston Herald reports. The right-hander, who has converted to a full-time reliever in 2016, has not allowed a run in four spring appearances (4.2 IP, two hits, one walk, seven strikeouts).

EDGE Analysis

Barnes is in a better spot this year; he'll be a reliever regardless of where he pitches. The UConn product trained as a reliever during last year's spring training, but was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket to be a starter when the need for a reliever at the major league level never materialized. He bounced back-and-forth between the roles all season long -- starting in the minors, relieving in the majors -- and it had a negative impact on Barnes' development. Having one role should lead to better results, but he also needs to grow. "It's been quality of location within the strike zone at times that was a little elusive last year. Like any young pitcher, getting a better idea of himself, certainly what big league hitters can sit on or feast on. The biggest thing with Matt is, if he gets in some fastball counts, have something other than his fastball, a breaking ball to throw for a strike," said manager John Farrell.

Barnes, who pitched both as a starter and reliever in 2015, will pitch exclusively out of the bullpen in 2016, WEEI.com reports. "With Matt Barnes, our plans are for him to come to spring training, and we've already talked to him about this, and really focus in on the bullpen, to try to help us with that power arm out there," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

EDGE Analysis

The move makes sense. Barnes is a power arm (mid-90s fastball) and the Red Sox bullpen lacked those types of arms last season. It also allows the young right-hander to focus exclusively on one role and how he needs to pitch in order to be successful in that role.