Barnes (back) expects to be activated from the 10-day disabled list when first eligible on Friday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Barnes, who has been on the shelf since Aug. 22 with a lower-back strain, is on the cusp of a return to the big-league bullpen. He's set to make a minor-league rehab start for Double-A Portland on Tuesday, and if all goes well, his next appearance should be for the Red Sox. Once he returns, Barnes should resume his role as one of Boston's main setup men for closer Craig Kimbrel.