MATT BARNES NEWS

Nails down fifth save Barnes struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

Impact He needed only 10 pitches, nine of them strikes, to breeze through the heart of the New York order. Barnes has taken a huge step forward with his control so far this season, cutting his walk rate nearly in half from his 12.4 percent mark in 2020 while assembling a 22:3 K:BB through 13 innings, and he's a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances as a result.

APRIL 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Richards strikes out 10, pitches Red Sox past Mets 2-1

Garrett Richards finally found the strike zone and punched out 10, Bobby Dalbec hit his first homer of the season and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Mets 2-1

APRIL 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fastballs, fast tempo keying Barnes' success As a veteran of Boston’s bullpen having made his debut in 2014, Matt Barnes took on a new responsibility this season as the closer. So far,...

APRIL 27, 2021 • MLB.COM

Records fourth save Barnes picked up his fourth save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth inning Sunday against the Mariners, striking out two.

Impact Barnes didn't have his best stuff Friday but looked much improved this time around, as he didn't have problems retiring the side and closing things out in the ninth. He has gone 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season, and this was also his third scoreless outing over his last four appearances.

APRIL 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

E-Rod, JD Martinez lead Red Sox past Mariners 5-3

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APRIL 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Barley holds on Barnes allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning in Friday's 6-5 win over Seattle.

Impact Barnes entered the ninth inning in a non-save situation with a mission to close out Boston's win and surrendered a three-run home run to Kyle Seager before getting the final out. He'd been sharp in all of his previous outings and entered the night with a 0.90 ERA and a 17:2 K:BB ratio.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bogaerts blasts one out of Fenway, BoSox hold on to beat M's

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer all the way out of Fenway Park and added an RBI single as the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5

APRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Case closed: Barnes' dominance settles any question over closer role Ottavino tells Cora he's up for whatever role he wants him to play

APRIL 23, 2021 • PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.COM

Red Sox’s Adam Ottavino gave blessing for Matt Barnes to be team’s closer: ‘I didn’t want to cause any waves’ Ottavino and Barnes were both vying for the closer job during spring training.

APRIL 23, 2021 • MASSLIVE.COM

Notches third save Barnes allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Blue Jays.

Impact Barnes was called upon to maintain a two-run lead in the ninth inning. He allowed an infield single with one out, but otherwise had little trouble recording his third save in as many chances this season. Though it was unclear whether Barnes or Adam Ottavino would work in the closer role for Boston to begin the campaign, Barnes has recorded three of the team's four saves -- the other went into extra innings -- and has pitched effectively in the role.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bogaerts' 3-run HR, Rodriguez lift BoSox over Blue Jays 4-2

Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run home run to back Eduardo Rodriguez in his first start at Fenway Park since 2019, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans two to earn save Barnes picked up his second save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins. He walked one and struck out across his lone inning on the mound.

Impact Barnes slammed the door shut in the seventh -- and final -- inning of the game, though he wasn't as composed as one would've expected and only tossed 10 of his 18 pitches for strikes. He fanned two in the process, though, and now he owns a 14:2 K:BB over his first six appearances (seven innings) of the campaign.

APRIL 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox beat Twins 7-1 for twinbill sweep, 9th straight win

Alex Verdugo had three hits, including a two-run single in a six-run fifth inning, and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to nine games, beating the Minnesota Twins 7...

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Devers, Bosox win snowy 7th in row; Twins hold silent moment

Rafael Devers homered for the fourth straight game and the streaking Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on a snowy afternoon in a series opener moved back following the fa...

APRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures first save Barnes retired the side in order with one strikeout during the ninth inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Twins.

Impact The right-hander threw 10 of 14 pitches for strikes as he set down the top of Minnesota's order. Barnes has yet to allow a hit this season and has a 12:1 K:BB across six scoreless frames through five appearances.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first win Barnes (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two en route to his first win of the season over the Orioles on Saturday.

Impact After Boston tied it up in the top of the ninth inning, Barnes was called upon to force extras. Barnes secured the win after the Red Sox took a 6-4 lead in the 10th inning. The 30-year-old has been close to perfect this season, tossing five innings and striking out 11 while allowing just one walk. Barnes is slated to be the primary closer for the Red Sox, but has not received a save opportunity yet.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox extend win streak to 5, beat Orioles 6-4 in 10

Rafael Devers homered and the Boston Red Sox scored twice in the 10th inning on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Christian Vázquez to extend their winning streak to five games wit...

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Another dominant outing Barnes struck out three over a perfect inning in Thursday's 7-3 win over Baltimore.

Impact Barnes had himself another dominant outing, needing just 11 pitches in a near-immaculate performance to dispatch the Orioles in a non-save situation. Through four innings, he's allowed one baserunner (a walk) and struck out nine of 13 batters faced. He's picked up where he left off in Grapefruit League play when struck out eight and allowed two hits in 5.1 scoreless innings. The Red Sox have not yet needed someone to close a game, but it's clear Barnes is ready if and when a save opportunity presents itself.

APRIL 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Makes multi-inning appearance Barnes struck out four over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-innings win over Tampa Bay.

Impact Barnes entered a non-save situation in the ninth inning and stayed in the game when Boston pushed across the tying run in the bottom half of the inning. He's considered the team's primary closer but hasn't had an opportunity to close out a game yet. Barnes has pitched well in two outings, striking out six with one walk over three scoreless innings.

APRIL 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles-Red Sox opener at Fenway postponed because of rain

The Boston Red Sox have postponed their opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park until Friday because of rain that was forecast to continue through the day

APRIL 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Positive test left Barnes confused, guilt-ridden Matt Barnes was left alone with\u00a0his thoughts at his Florida home last weekend.\u00a0How could he possibly have contracted COVID-19?

MARCH 30, 2021 • PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.COM

Red Sox’ Matt Barnes, out of COVID protocol, is ‘very relieved’ to be cleared for Opening Day - The Boston Globe Barnes’ positive COVID-19 test returned Saturday was categorized as a false positive or non-infectious positive.

MARCH 30, 2021 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Back in camp Barnes was determined to have a non-infectious positive test for COVID-19 on Monday and is now back in camp, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Barnes looked like he might have to miss the start of the regular season following his positive test Saturday, but the result was evidently a false positive. Missing the start of camp may have left Adam Ottavino as the team's closer to start the year by default, but Barnes is now back in the battle. The winner of the job remains undetermined.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox wait, hope Matt Barnes' COVID-19 situation doesn't upend roster before Opening Day So far, the Red Sox haven't received any additional positive tests, though eight persons are isolating after contact with Barnes.

MARCH 28, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Four more Red Sox players in quarantine after Matt Barnes tested positive for COVID-19 With Opening Day on Thursday, four additional players could be in jeopardy of sitting out.

MARCH 28, 2021 • BOSTONHERALD.COM