Athletics send down struggling Mason Barnett

The A’s scored four times in the top of the ninth to go from trailing by one to creating a pretty easy save chance. They could have turned to usual suspects Hogan Harris or Elvis Alvarado at that point, but both pitched last night. Barnett got the chance and handled it quickly. His previous save came on June 9, when he pitched the final two innings of a 7-5 game. He’s probably still behind Harris and Alvarado in line for saves, but at least he’s in the mix. It is possible he could be stretched back out as a rotation candidate at some point.

Barnett was summoned in the eighth inning with a two-run lead against the Brewers. He completed two clean innings, shutting the door on Milwaukee with four strikeouts to convert his first save. Barnett had previously made appearances of four and two scoreless frames, so he may stick to a multi-inning role. But he now has a solid 11/4 K/BB ratio across 7 1/3 scoreless innings of work.

Barnett seemed to be the likeliest choice to join the A’s rotation when Luis Severino went down last week, and he became an even better bet with the decision to demote Jacob Lopez a couple of days later. Instead, the A’s went to Jack Perkins and Kade Morris and brought up Barnett as a reliever, instead. Tonight, at least, Barnett looked like the easily superior choice to Perkins as a starter, as he took over after Perkins gave up five runs in four innings. He went on to allow just one hard-hit ball and generated 12 whiffs on 26 swings. Perhaps it’s too soon for the A’s to make another change right away, but Barnett could be starting before long.

Barnett returns to the big leagues as a long relief option for the Athletics in the short term with the possibility that he jumps into their rotation against the Astros later this week as a replacement for an injured Luis Severino (shoulder). The 25-year-old has posted a respectable 4.64 ERA and 41/26 K/BB ratio across 42 2/3 innings across nine starts for Triple-A Las Vegas this season.

Severino left his start Friday after allowing four unearned runs in an inning against the Yankees. Reliever Michael Kelly is replacing him on the roster for now, but the A’s could turn to Mason Barnett in his rotation spot next week. Jack Perkins might also be an option after being extended to 63 pitches in his last relief appearance.

The A’s needed to clear a spot on their active roster for the arrival of Jose Suarez on Friday and unfortunately for Barnett he was the odd man out this time around. The 25-year-old hurler made one appearance during his brief stay with the A’s, firing two scoreless innings with a strikeout and two walks.

Barnett returns to the Athletics relief corps with Brooks Kriske heading to the injured list with a shoulder impingement. The 25-year-old reliever tossed two scoreless frames in his lone outing in the big leagues last month.

Barnett fired two scoreless frames in his lone relief appearance for the Athletics after being called up over the weekend. The 25-year-old righty figures to be up-and-down as a multi-inning long relief arm over the next few months.

Barnett returns to the majors after posting a pedestrian 6.85 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 18/11 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings over five starts last year for the Athletics. The 25-year-old figures to pitch in long relief spots.

Barnett had a 6.85 ERA in his five-start audition last year with the Athletics, but also had a 6.13 ERA in 119 innings at Triple-A as well.