Barnes allowed a 12th-inning homer to Toronto's Russell Martin in Saturday's loss. He's allowed a run in each of last three appearances. Barnes has been dodging bullets all season, but it's finally caught up with him this week. He's given up five runs on seven hits over his last three outings, spanning three innings.

Barnes pitched to one batter and got a strikeout in the eighth inning of Saturday's win over the Athletics. Junichi Tazawa, the usual eighth-inning man, had pitched three straight days and was unavailable. As such, manager John Farrell had to stitch together the eighth with lefty Tommy Layne and the right-handed Barnes. Barnes has managed to avoid trouble despite giving up 18 hits and five walks in 14 innings.

Barnes pitched 3.1 scoreless innings Monday in relief of an ineffective Joe Kelly. He permitted five hits and struck out five while tossing a season-high 58 pitches. Barnes has managed to get outs when needed, but has walked a dangerous line, having allowed 14 hits and four walks in 10 innings. The 58 pitches suggests Barnes could possibly be a fill-in starter should the Red Sox decide to skip Kelly's next turn.

Barnes picked up the win Thursday night, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Mariners. It's the second win he's picked up in a relief role. Barnes has been thrust into an unlikely position of prominence in Boston's bullpen and will remain there for the time being. He's been able to sidestep any danger, despite allowing six hits and two walks in 4.1 innings since his most recent callup.

Barnes said his arm felt good after pitching twice in three days, the Providence Journal reports. He threw 40 pitches on Saturday before throwing another 27 on Monday. "My arm felt great today," Barnes said after Sunday's game. "The way it's responding, I'm really happy with it." This was the first time in Barnes' career that he's made appearances within such a short span of time. It looks like Barnes will be pitching in a relief role for 2015 after serving as a starter since being drafted 19th overall in 2011 out of the University of Connecticut.

Barnes pitched two scoreless innings, retiring six of the seven batters faced, to pick up the win over Oakland. It was the first win of Barnes' major-league career. Barnes, who has been converted from a starter, pitched on short rest and responded well after throwing 1.1 innings Saturday. The Red Sox haven't yet defined a role for Barnes, but he has the type of fastball that would work in the set up frames.

Barnes allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 innings in Saturday's loss to the Blue Jays. Barnes didn't offer much relief in his first appearance since getting called up. His promotion was part of several organizational moves to address the under-performing Red Sox, but Barnes should not be viewed as a panacea for what's ailing the team. The starting pitching is a mess and the offense isn't providing timely hitting.

Barnes has been called up to the Red Sox, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. Barnes' call-up was delayed for one game so the Red Sox could start Travis Shaw at first, but Barnes will now replace Shaw and likely hit the bullpen with his electric fastball. Boston could still see Barnes as a starter long-term, but there's a short-term need to be filled.

Boston general manager Ben Cherington said the organization is preparing Barnes "to potentially help the major league team," the Boston Globe reports. Barnes had been scheduled to start for Triple- A Pawtucket on Thursday, but was used in relief Wednesday night and appears ticketed for Boston after the Red Sox designated Edward Mujica for assignment Thursday. The Red Sox got a good look at Barnes as a reliever during spring training, and after heading to Pawtucket to be a starter, it looks like the right-hander is going to help the major-league team as a reliever.

Barnes, who was scheduled to start Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket, instead pitched an inning of relief Wednesday. He allowed a couple of hits and struck out one in a scoreless appearance. Using Barnes out of the pen is a sign the organization may be considering adding him to the Red Sox bullpen.