Barlow was charged with his first blown save of the season Saturday, giving up an unearned run on a hit and a walk in the 10th inning of an 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

After Elvis Alvarado, Hogan Harris and Michael Kelly made a hash of things in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to let the game get to extras, the A's grabbed a 7-6 lead in the top of the 10th and handed the ball to Barlow. He wasn't able to get to the job done, and he very nearly took the loss when Addison Barger's deep drive to right field fell a foot or two shy of being a walk-off homer rather than a game-tying sacrifice fly. The A's closer situation remains muddy, but Barlow at least has a 0.00 ERA through his first two appearances and 2.2 innings.

Barlow could begin the season as an option in the Athletics' closer committee, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander joined the A's on a one-year, $2 million contract in February after posting a 4.21 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 75:45 K:BB over 68.1 innings for the Reds during the 2025 regular season. Barlow recorded one save and 16 holds, but he tallied 53 saves from 2021-23 and is an experienced high-leverage option for manager Mark Kotsay. The skipper shifted to a heavy committee approach last season after closer Mason Miller departed at the trade deadline, so the fantasy upside could be limited in this closing situation unless Kotsay's approach changes.

Barlow allowed two runs on three hits and no walks across one inning in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to the Brewers. He did not record a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Barlow entered in the fifth inning to make his Athletics debut after signing a one-year deal with the club Feb. 6, and he allowed some hard contact, including a pair of two-out doubles by Tyler Black and David Hamilton that each drove in a run. The veteran right-hander is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with a 9.9 K/9 and a career-worst 5.9 BB/9 across 68.1 innings with the Reds. His 59 career saves will keep him in the mix for closing duties, though middling results in recent seasons offer little security as Barlow competes with fellow veteran Mark Leiter and younger options Justin Sterner, Elvis Alvarado and several other arms.

The Athletics signed Barlow to a one-year, $2 million contract Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will have the opportunity to earn an additional $1.3 million in incentives. Barlow spent the 2025 season with the Reds, finishing the regular season with a 4.21 ERA and 75:45 K:BB over 68.1 innings. The 33-year-old hasn't had an ERA below 4.21 or WHIP below 1.36 since 2022, but with 59 career saves, Barlow has easily the most closer experience on the Athletics' roster. That alone should put him in the mix for saves, but even if Barlow wins the job, he'd be a poor bet to retain it.

The Reds declined Barlow's $6.5 million option for 2026 on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Barlow will receive a $1 million buyout instead. The veteran reliever made 75 regular-season appearances out of the Reds' bullpen, posting a 4.21 ERA and 75:45 K:BB over 68.1 frames. Barlow should be able to land a deal this winter to serve as a middle reliever.

Barlow will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher in Tuesday's contest versus the Blue Jays, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nick Lodolo was scheduled to start but was scratched due to an illness, so the Reds will go with an impromptu bullpen game Tuesday. Barlow will likely pitch an inning or two before being followed by a slew of relievers.

Barlow walked one and struck out four over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the save in Monday's 4-1 win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds were a bit thin in the bullpen Monday, as all of Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft had pitched Saturday and Sunday. Barlow stepped up for the four-out save, throwing 14 of 25 pitches for strikes. While this was his first save of 2025, Barlow had earned 58 saves from 2019-2024. He's added 13 holds and a blown save while pitching to a 3.54 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 61:34 K:BB across 56 innings. He's not the top option for ancillary saves, but Barlow remains part of the Reds' high-leverage mix.

Cincinnati activated Barlow from the paternity list Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Barlow was placed on the paternity list Friday but is back with the team after just one day. Luis Mey, who was brought up from Triple-A to take Barlow's bullpen spot Friday, has been optioned back to the minors in a corresponding move.

The Reds placed Barlow on the paternity list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Barlow will be temporarily away from the team for personal reasons. While he's away, Luis Mey will fill the vacated spot in the bullpen. Barlow has a 3.53 ERA in 44.2 innings of relief this season.

Barlow, who has pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB over eight innings this spring, could be an option to close games after Alexis Diaz (hamstring) was ruled out for the start of the 2025 season. "I don't think it's necessary that we name a closer," manager Terry Francona told Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Francona said he hadn't "given it a ton of thought yet" and didn't seem in a hurry to settle on one arm in the ninth inning, saying, "We'll just see how we get there, and we'll do it the best way we can." Barlow has racked up 58 career saves to date, including a career-high 24 saves in 2022, but Taylor Rogers and Emilio Pagan also have past closing experience. Graham Ashcraft is also moving to the bullpen and has expressed to the club a desire to work toward the closer role. The club still wants Diaz "to be that guy," Francona said, but a strong performance by someone else in the meantime could change the equation.