Barnes (back) threw with no issues Sunday but isn't expected to be available for the series finale against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes previously hoped to be available for Saturday's contest but didn't take the mound, and he isn't expected to make his season debut Sunday. The 31-year-old's back is apparently feeling better, and manager Alex Cora expects the right-hander to be available for Monday's matchup with the Tigers.

Barnes (back) is hopeful that he'll be available to pitch Saturday against the Yankees, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes was unavailable for Friday's loss to the Yankees after he hurt his back in a workout Thursday, but he'll play catch ahead of Saturday's matchup to test his injury. If the right-hander is available, he's a prime candidate to serve as Boston's closer.

Barnes didn't pitch in Friday's Opening Day loss to the Yankees due to back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Although Friday's matchup lasted 11 innings, Barnes didn't enter the game. Manager Alex Cora said after the loss that the right-hander was unavailable due to his back injury. It's not yet clear when Barnes will be able to return to action.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora believes the team discovered a mechanical flaw in Barnes' delivery may that may be the cause of a drop in velocity, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes' four-seamer has been sitting in the 92-93 mph range compared to the 96-97 range in which it usually lives. "I think it's something about his leg kick," Cora said. "Last year, he was a lot tighter. Now, he's loose. If you want to use a reference, it's like a figure skater. When you're open, it slows you down. When you're closed, you're actually faster, quicker." Barnes will work on his mechanics and is slated for two more Grapefruit League appearances. If the velocity comes back by eliminating the flaw, Barnes should be considered a prime candidate to close for Boston.

Barnes' fastball reached 92-93 mph in Saturday's spring training outing against the Pirates, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes averaged 95.8 mph on his four-seamer in 2021 and touched 96 and 97 at times. He was an All-Star closer over the first half of the season. This spring, however, the velocity has been inconsistent and down. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits while striking out one Saturday in his fourth Grapefruit League outing. He's scheduled to make two more appearances, and Boston manager Alex Cora hopes to see an uptick in velocity before Thursday's Opening Day. Cora has yet to name a closer and said that reliever will be revealed the first time the Red Sox are in a save situation during the regular season. Hansel Robles and Garrett Whitlock are perceived to be potential closers if Barnes isn't finishing games.

Barnes struck out one over a perfect inning in Tuesday's spring training game against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes worked the fifth inning and made quick work of Curtis Mead, Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi during his first Grapefruit League outing. The goal for the Red Sox in 2022 is to build back a better Barnes, so to speak. The right-handed reliever cruised as Boston's closer through the first half of last season, but he faltered spectacularly down the stretch and lost the job altogether before being left off the ALCS roster. Tuesday was a promising start toward the goal of reclaiming his old role, but manager Alex Cora suggested earlier in camp that he may not name a closer until just before the start of the regular season.

Boston manager Alex Cora has not yet named a closer, a role that Barnes filled for much of the 2021 season, Christopher Smith of Mass Live reports.

EDGE Analysis

When asked about the team's closer this season, Cora simply responded, "We'll see on April 7 (Opening Day)." Barnes was an All-Star in 2021 but fell apart in the second half of the season. He allowed 12 earned runs in 10 ⅔ innings (10.13 ERA) over his final 16 outings, while opponents batted .340 against him. Cora said the Barnes worked on a few things over the offseason, and he's looked good throwing thus far. The team will work to get the right-handed reliever back on track and, as Cora described it, "back to the mentality of attacking, attacking, attacking."

Barnes was left off Boston's ALCS roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Alex Cora clearly didn't trust Barnes in any high-leverage situations against Tampa Bay in the ALDS, as the righty's only appearance came with a 14-6 lead in Game 2. The All-Star closer's omission from postseason rosters would've seemed unfathomable in early July, but a brutal second half drastically changed his role in Boston's bullpen.

Barnes has been added to Boston's ALDS roster.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes wasn't available for Thursday's Game 1 loss to the Rays, but he'll join the bullpen after right-hander Garrett Richards (hamstring) was removed from the roster. The 31-year-old posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 3.2 innings across his final four appearances of the regular season.

Barnes isn't on the roster for the ALDS, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnes earned 24 saves during the 2021 campaign, but he struggled across the final two months of the season and recorded a 9.26 ERA and 2.23 WHIP in 11.2 innings since the start of August. Adam Ottavino will likely be the favorite for ninth-inning duties during the postseason series against the Rays.