Red Sox News: Matt Barnes placed on 15-day IL for shoulder inflammation

Red Sox place Matt Barnes on 15-day IL

The wild ride that has been Matt Barnes‘ 2022 season has taken yet another turn as the Red Sox announced that he’s been placed on the 15-day IL due to shoulder inflammation. To say this year has been a disappointment for the righty would be a massive understatement. A guy who was a top closer in the game for half of 2021 is now a shell of himself but this time on the shelf may be a good thing.

Barnes was once Alex Cora’s best weapon and now it feels as if the skipper is nervous to even call his number. He’s been used in some odd scenarios this season many of which do not resemble any of the ones we’ve seen in the past. He’s pitched in blowout losses, and blowout wins, and it feels like that’s the only time AC feels comfortable using him right now.

It’s really hard to pinpoint when things exactly when wrong for Matty B. If I had to guess, it was the workload he faced at the beginning of 2021 that led to his poor second half. We’ve seen this happen to him before and he even spoke at length about working on his stamina to avoid it but we just haven’t seen it. Add that into his velocity being down and almost no movement on his heater and he just isn’t getting it done.

Where he was at this time last season versus 2022 is a bit eye-opening. Through May 30th of 2021, he had a 2.63 ERA, 1.46 FIP, 15.38 K/9, and a 1.88 BB.9 through 24 innings, per FanGraphs. And for 2022, through the same date on the calendar, Barnes owns a 7.94 ERA, 5.32 FIP, 7.41 K/9, and a 6.35 BB/9 through 17 innings of work, also per FanGraphs.

It’s never a good sign when metrics on both sides of the coin swing massively in the wrong direction but that’s what we’re looking at now. When he was at his best last season he was attacking with the fastball and then pulling the rug with his curve. This season, he’s relying on his curveball more and then has to try and bail himself out with the heat. That is most likely due to his issues with velocity but it’s also a losing formula.

For what it’s worth, this may be a good thing for Barnes. It’ll allow him to get healthy, get everything back to full working order, and could even give him some time to get his mind right. We’ve heard him recently speak to the fact that he knows he isn’t living up to what he’s capable of and his highest priority is to help the Red Sox win. Some time away from the mound could be exactly what he needs right now in order to get back on track.

The Red Sox bullpen has shown signs of greatness while also having moments of bewilderment. We just don’t know what’s trotting out to the mound on any given night. Having a healthy Matt Barnes is an absolute boost to the relief efforts for Boston and if they want to salvage this season they need him right in every aspect of the phrase. If this break can allow him time to get healthy and focused, we could see a completely different pitcher as we make our way through June.

It’s no secret that Barnes hasn’t been his best self this season and he’d be the first one to tell you that. But he’s still a guy that the Red Sox need going forward and they need him in the best place both physically and mentally. While on the IL he can rest his shoulder, watch the tape, study what may be off with his mechanics, and just get into the zone. I don’t know if we’ll get the guy we saw through the first half of 2021, but at this point, I’ll take even a fraction of that pitcher.