The next man in the set-up job: Matt Barnes.
In spring training, it was Joe Kelly that Farrell kept talking up as the eighth-inning guy, at least until Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith return from their respective injuries. But with 3-u2154 mostly-impressive innings from Barnes to start the year, Farrell is now looking at a different pitcher to handle the eighth.
“Depending on the inning,” Farrell said. “You know, I think the way Matt Barnes has thrown the baseball you would say that he’s going to have the eighth inning provided he’s not gone two innings the day before.