The Guardians released Barlow on Wednesday.
Barlow cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and is now a free agent. The veteran reliever could catch on with a new team for the final weeks, but he would not be eligible for the postseason roster. Barlow has posted a 4.25 ERA and 68:31 K:BB over 55 innings this season.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: DFA'd by Cleveland
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The Guardians designated Barlow for assignment Sunday.
Barlow has struggled since the start of August with 11 earned runs allowed across 11.2 innings, and it will cost him his place on the roster. The veteran right-hander had a 3.12 ERA in 50 outings this season prior to that stretch, so he could land somewhere for the final weeks of the season, though he won't be playoff eligible with a different organization.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Bounces back with third win
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Barlow (3-3) allowed a walk in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the extra-inning win Tuesday over the Tigers.
Barlow was on the hook for the loss Monday, but he was better Tuesday as the Guardians evened the series at one game apiece. The right-hander's biggest problem this season has been with free passes -- he has a 5.3 BB/9 and a 1.35 WHIP. Barlow is still finding plenty of success with his slider and curveball, which collectively account for nearly 70 percent of his pitches. This is the second year in a row he's had significant struggles with his four-seam fastball, which opponents have batted .360 and slugged .520 against in 2024. With a 3.58 ERA and 17 holds, Barlow has yet to lose out on high-leverage looks, but all of Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin and Cade Smith have produced better results while seeing similar usage, though Barlow's 12.7 K/9 is tops on the team.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Takes loss Monday
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Barlow (2-3) allowed a run on two hits and a walk over one-third of an inning, taking the loss versus the Tigers on Monday.
Barlow put runners on the corners before giving up the lone run of the game on a fielder's choice. He allowed just two runs over 12.1 innings from the start of June through July 4, but he's given up another two runs over his last two appearances. Barlow is at a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB through 36.2 innings while adding two saves and 17 holds. Barlow is part of the mix for setup duties, but his lofty walk rate continues to hold him back compared to many of Cleveland's other relievers.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Notches second save
Rotowire
Barlow struck out the side in the ninth inning of Monday's win against Baltimore, logging his second save of the season.
With closer Emmanuel Clase pitching the previous two days for Cleveland, Barlow was called upon in the ninth to preserve a one-run lead. The 31-year-old made the most of his opportunity, but he will see few save chances while Emmanuel Clase his healthy. Barlow owns a 3.66 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP and a 44:17 K:BB over 32 innings this season, adding 16 holds and two saves.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Collects 15th hold
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Barlow pitched a perfect inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Royals.
Barlow has given up six runs over his last seven innings, but he's also picked up seven holds over nine appearances in that span. He's been a little shaky all season, as evidenced by a middling 3.91 ERA to go with a 1.34 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB through 25.1 innings, but Barlow still leads the Guardians with 15 holds. He's maintained a setup role while adding one save and a 2-2 record, though Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis have been more reliable parts of the bridge to closer Emmanuel Clase.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Picks up win Tuesday
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Barlow (1-2) struck out one without allowing a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win Tuesday over the Red Sox.
Barlow entered with one on and one out in the top of the seventh inning. The baserunner, Rob Refsnyder, was erased when he was caught stealing, and Barlow struck out Enmanuel Valdez to end the inning. The Guardians then rallied ahead in their half of the frame. After a rough start to the season, Barlow has limited opponents to one run on three hits and a walk over his last 5.1 innings. It is notable that he entered the game with the Guardians behind while Hunter Gaddis, who has worked himself into the late-inning mix, pitched the eighth. Barlow is at a 4.09 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through 11 innings overall, adding a save and five holds through 12 appearances.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Nabs first save
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Barlow struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 10-7 extra-innings win over the Red Sox.
Barlow has been shaky this year, but he showed no trouble in protecting a three-run lead in the 11th inning. He threw nine of 14 pitches for strikes. This was his third consecutive scoreless outing, and it earned him his first save of the season after Emmanuel Clase failed to lock things down in the 10th. Barlow has a 4.32 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB with four holds through 8.1 innings this season.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Takes second loss
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Barlow (0-2) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning to take the loss Tuesday versus the White Sox.
Barlow gave up a two-run double to Dominic Fletcher in the eighth inning, and that was the decisive play of the game. Barlow entered Tuesday with three consecutive scoreless outings, but he's been a bit shaky in a high-leverage role. He has four holds and two losses through six appearances while pitching to a 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP over 5.2 innings. With pitchers like Nick Sandlin and Hunter Gaddis starting the season well, continued struggles from Barlow could see him drop a couple of spots in Cleveland's bullpen hierarchy.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Shaping up as setup man
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Barlow has allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three over three Cactus League innings.
Barlow's a veteran, so his rough start to spring shouldn't lead to too much panic. He struggled a bit in 2023, pitching to a career-worst 4.37 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 79:34 K:BB over 68 innings between the Royals and the Padres. His 3.19 FIP last year suggests he was somewhat unlucky, which is a silver lining. Barlow offers ninth-inning experience -- he has 56 career saves and has also added 48 holds. Despite the spring struggles, he should serve as the primary setup man to closer Emmanuel Clase.
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Guardians' Scott Barlow: Traded to Cleveland
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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.
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Padres' Scott Barlow: Shines in team debut
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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.
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Padres' Scott Barlow: Traded to San Diego
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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.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Nails down 13th save
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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
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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
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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.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Roughed up in blown save
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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: Earns win over Nationals
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Barlow (2-3) pitched a hitless ninth while walking one and striking out a batter to pick up the win over the Nationals on Sunday.
Barlow set down the Nationals on 17 pitches with the game tied up 2-2 in the ninth and wound up with his second win after the Royals walked it off. The 30-year-old has allowed a run just once over his last 13 outings but has just two saves and both his wins this month. Barlow has now pitched on consecutive days and likely should have the day off Monday against the Cardinals. He now owns a 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB over 21 innings.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Handed third loss
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Barlow dropped to 1-3 in Monday's 8-5 loss to the Tigers in 10 innings after allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts across 1.2 innings.
After keeping the game tied in the ninth inning, Barlow saw his scoreless streak end at 10.2 innings after he yielded a three-run double to Javier Baez in the top of the 10th. Barlow has a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB through 19 innings this season, and he's generally pitched well of late, though save chances remain sparse while pitching for the 14-35 Royals. He's converted six of his seven save opportunities to date.
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Royals' Scott Barlow: Nails down sixth save
Rotowire
Barlow picked up the save Wednesday with a perfect inning against the Padres, including one strikeout.
Barlow made quick work of the Padres in the ninth, as he needed just seven pitches to retire the side. The closer has worked 10 straight outings, and 10.2 innings, since he last allowed a run April 19. All seven earned runs Barlow has allowed came in an eight-day span in April. The righty has 24 strikeouts in 17.1 innings this season.
