MATT BARNES NEWS

Yankees beat Mets 2-1 to stop 7-game slide

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hangs on for second save Barnes gave up two hits, including a solo home run, and struck out two in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 9-7 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact The right-hander had a big enough cushion to withstand Teoscar Hernandez's blast, but this was still the second time in three appearances since taking over the closer role that Barnes has been scored upon. On the season, the right-hander has a rough 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB through 12 innings, and manager Ron Roenicke may look at other options in the ninth inning if Barnes continues to be shaky.

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Devers hits 3-run triple, Red Sox rally to beat Blue Jays

Rafael Devers hit a three-run triple to highlight Boston's six-run outburst in the sixth inning as the Red Sox rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-7

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giolito fans 13 in no-hitter, White Sox blank Pirates 4-0

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blows save chance Barnes (1-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk while striking out one to blow the save and take the loss Saturday against the Orioles.

Impact Barnes was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the 10th inning. The save chance had a higher degree of difficulty considering a runner began on second base, but he also struggled to find the strike zone, allowing one run to score on a wild pitch and also issuing a free pass. After a successful save conversion on Friday, Barnes has worked in the closer role since Brandon Workman was dealt and should get the majority of save chances going forward, unless he runs into consistent struggles in the role.

AUGUST 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles tag Boston bullpen, end skid with 5-4 victory

Pedro Severino singled in the winning run in the 10th inning to punctuate a poor performance by Boston’s revamped bullpen, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Red Sox 5-4 Saturday n...

AUGUST 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trout drives in 3 as Angels beat Athletics 4-3

AUGUST 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns save Friday Barnes fired one scoreless inning as he earned the save Friday against the Orioles. He allowed one hit and no walks while striking out zero.

Impact Barnes was used in the ninth inning after Brandon Workman was traded to the Phillies earlier Friday. While Barnes should be the favorite for the Red Sox's save opportunities, manager Ron Roenicke said after the game that he wouldn't be used as a traditional closer, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. It appears as though the Red Sox will use him in high-leverage situations late in games, even if those situations aren't in the ninth inning. Although Roenicke wouldn't commit to using Barnes as a traditional closer, he said that he'd likely get the majority of the team's save opportunities.

AUGUST 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox beat Orioles 8-5 for season-high third straight win

Xander Bogaerts and J

AUGUST 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Could be Boston's new closer Barnes could serve as the Red Sox's primary closer after Brandon Workman was traded to the Phillies on Friday.

Impact Barnes was considered the favorite to close out games heading into the 2019 season, but he only converted on four of his 12 save chances. He still put together a fairly solid stat line with a 3.78 ERA and 110:38 K:BB over 64.1 innings as he made 70 relief appearances last season. He's been slightly less effective with a 5.59 ERA in 9.2 innings across his first nine appearances this season, but he could be thrust into the closer's role with Workman out of the picture for Boston. Barnes' value is slightly limited by his lackluster results combined with the Red Sox's struggles to string together wins this season, but the right-hander now has much more fantasy relevance as Boston's likely closer.

AUGUST 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up relief win Barnes (1-1) struck out two over an inning and earned the win in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

Impact Barnes worked a scoreless ninth inning, setting the stage for Boston's offense to plate two runs in the bottom half of the inning for a walk-off win. He's recorded three consecutive scoreless outings following a rough start. The right-hander will continue to be used in the late innings despite a 5.14 ERA and six walks over seven innings.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Fight mars A's 9th straight win, 7-2 over Astros

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moreland 2 HRs, walk-off shot sends Red Sox over Toronto 5-3

Mitch Moreland hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot over the Green Monster to send the Boston Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3

AUGUST 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

First-place Marlins sweep O's, move to 5-1 despite outbreak

AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Verdugo, Chavis homer to back Pérez as Red Sox beat Rays 5-0

Martín Pérez pitched out of trouble all night, and Alex Verdugo and Michael Chavis homered to help the Boston Red Sox stop a four-game skid Wednesday with a 5-0 victory over the sl...

AUGUST 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Matt Barnes needs to turn things around A rough start from an important player.

AUGUST 4, 2020 • OVERTHEMONSTER.COM

Stuck with loss Sunday Barnes (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one in one inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Yankees.

Impact Barnes had a one-run lead to protect when he entered in the eighth inning, but a DJ LeMahieu RBI single and a two-run homer from Aaron Judge left the veteran reliever with a loss. Barnes has produced mixed results in four appearances this year -- two have been scoreless, and he's yielded four combined runs in the other two. The 30-year-old still serves in a setup role in the Red Sox bullpen despite the unsteady play.

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Stuck with loss Sunday Barnes (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one in one inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Yankees.

Impact Barnes had a one-run lead to protect when he entered in the eighth inning, but a DJ LeMahieu RBI single and a two-run homer from Aaron Judge left the veteran reliever with a loss. Barnes has produced mixed results in four appearances this year -- two have been scoreless, and he's yielded four combined runs in the other two. The 30-year-old still serves in a setup role in the Red Sox bullpen despite the unsteady play.

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Red-hot Judge powers streaking Yankees past Red Sox 9-7

Aaron Judge homered twice and drove in five runs, connecting for the fifth straight game and breaking an eighth-inning tie with a tape-measure shot that powered the New York Yankee...

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Picks up second hold Barnes allowed one hit, one walk and hit a batter over a scoreless eighth inning to pick up his second hold in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Mets.

Impact For a second straight game, Barnes entered in the eighth inning to shepherd a lead to closer Brandon Workman. And for a second straight game, Barnes put himself in trouble -- he gave up a home run during Wednesday's appearance, then the right-hander worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam Thursday. If he can't turn things around, he could slip below someone like Heath Hembree in the setup pecking order.

JULY 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Vázquez homers twice to lead Pérez and Red Sox past Mets 4-2

Christian Vázquez hit two more home runs and Martín Pérez gave Boston’s patchwork rotation a much-needed lift Thursday night, leading the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the New York...

JULY 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mashes second homer Cespedes went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox.

Impact He socked his second homer of the year off Matt Barnes in the eighth inning but missed a chance to play hero in the ninth, striking out with the bases loaded in a one-run game. Cespedes is flashing his power but otherwise looks very rusty at the plate, slashing .211/.286/.526 through five games with a 1:10 BB:K.

JULY 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

High-leverage role on tap Barnes is expected to begin the season as the setup man for closer Brandon Workman, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Impact Workman was officially named Boston's closer to start the season, but Barnes should still see plenty of high-leverage opportunities. The 30-year-old has recorded 20-plus holds in each of the past three seasons and has continually increased his strikeout total, finishing with 110 strikeouts over 64.1 innings last season. Given those numbers, Barnes should still have some fantasy value as a high-leverage reliever, especially since he's likely the next man up for saves behind Workman.

JULY 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

AL East Preview Capsules

JULY 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Warriors Ultimate Draft snubs: Matt Barnes, Sleepy Floyd left off list You can't create any list without some snubs.

JUNE 23, 2020 • YAHOO.COM