Cleveland acquired Barlow from the Padres on Friday in exchange for Enyel De Los Santos.
Barlow posted a rough 5.35 ERA through his first 38.2 innings with the Royals in 2023, but he turned it around to the tune of a 3.07 ERA across 29.1 innings following an Aug. 1 trade to San Diego. The 30-year-old right-hander should be a setup option for the Guardians next season.
Barlow earned a hold against Colorado on Wednesday, striking out three batters in 1.2 scoreless innings.
After being acquired in a trade with the Royals on Tuesday, Barlow saw his first action as a Padre on Wednesday, coming on with San Diego holding a 4-1 lead with one out in the sixth frame. The right-handed reliever's own error put a runner on base in that inning, but that was the only misstep by Barlow in an impressive outing during which he threw 15 of 20 pitches for a strike and fanned three batters. Josh Hader is entrenched as the Padres' closer, so Barlow probably won't have many chances to add to the 13 saves he notched while with Kansas City, but he should still see plenty of high-leverage situations as a bridge to Hader.
The Padres acquired Barlow from the Royals on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.comreports.
Barlow has 13 saves this season to go along with an ugly 5.35 ERA, but Kansas City was still able to cash in at the trade deadline. The right-hander pitched to a 2.18 ERA last season and could fill a setup role for closer Josh Hader if he can rediscover that form with the Friars.
Barlow gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his 13th save of the season in a 10-7 win over the Twins.
The right-hander rebounded from his third blown save of the season in impressive fashion, fanning Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco en route to his fourth save in July. Barlow's recent stumbles have left him with a 5.35 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB through 38.2 innings on the season, but his high-leverage experience could still make him an attractive target for a contender at the trade deadline.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Blows save Friday
Rotowire
Barlow allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Twins.
Barlow couldn't protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning, and the Twins would take the lead in the 10th before Bobby Witt's walk-off grand slam won it for the Royals. Barlow has been bad over his last 10 appearances, a span in which he's allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in 10 innings while taking two of his three blown saves on the year. He's now at a 5.50 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB with 12 saves in 15 chances over 37.2 innings. Barlow may not stay with the Royals beyond the trade deadline, and he would likely have to settle for a setup or committee role at best with any contender if he is traded.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Picks up save Monday
Rotowire
Barlow allowed two hits in a scoreless inning and earned a save against the Guardians on Monday.
Barlow found himself in a bit of a jam but still finished off the 5-3 victory. He gave up seven runs (six earned) over his previous two outings but still appears to be clinging to the closer role in Kansas City. Barlow has converted 12 of his 14 save chances despite registering an unsightly 5.15 ERA through 36.2 innings this season.
Barlow fired a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save Sunday against the Guardians. He allowed one hit and struck out a batter in the process.
Barlow should've ended the game with a strikeout of Will Brennan, but things got extended after Brennan reached on a dropped third strikeout to bring the tying run to the plate. Barlow wound up getting Myles Straw to line out to close out the game and grab his second save in July. The 30-year-old now sits at a 4.09 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44:16 K:BB over 33 innings this year. He certainly could be another trade candidate for the Royals after they already shipped out Aroldis Chapman, where he'd likely move into a setup role on a playoff team.
Barlow earned a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter over 1.1 innings.
Barlow blew his previous save opportunity against Cleveland on Tuesday, but he bounced back against the Dodgers. The right-hander entered in the eighth frame with two runners on, two outs and Kansas City up by two runs, and he walked Mookie Betts to load the bases before getting Freddie Freeman to end the inning with a groundout. Barlow followed with a 1-2-3 ninth to notch the save. The veteran now has 10 saves on the campaign after registering a career-high 24 last season.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Roughed up in blown save
Rotowire
Barlow (2-4) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Guardians. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning.
Barlow inherited a 1-0 lead in the ninth but failed to convert on the save opportunity, giving up a single to Josh Naylor and a walk to Andres Gimenez before Will Brennan smacked a bases-clearing double to give Cleveland the lead and eventual win. Through 28 appearances (28.2 innings) Barlow owns a 4.40 ERA and a 40:14 K:BB with nine saves while acting as the Royals' primary closer all season. This was just Barlow's second blown save all season.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Notches save Thursday
Rotowire
Barlow earned a save against the Rays on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in a scoreless inning.
Barlow faced a tough task in the outing, as he was summoned to go up against the heart of the Rays' order with KC holding a one-run ninth-inning lead. The veteran gave up a one-out single to Luke Raley but proceeded to strike out Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes to nail down the save. Though Barlow's 3.90 season ERA isn't anything to shout about, he's been effective in finishing off contests, recording nine saves in 10 chances.
