Kimbrel has no problem being part of a closer committee this season, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Kimbrel's 394 career saves lead all active players and rank seventh all-time, but his drop in performance over the last few seasons means he can no longer walk into a room and automatically inherit the closer title. His 3.70 ERA last season wasn't terrible, but his 27.7 percent strikeout rate represented a career low. The Phillies didn't have a dedicated closer down the stretch last season after Corey Knebel pitched his way out of the role, and they don't intend to anoint Kimbrel or anyone else to the job at the moment. Kimbrel has struggled when pitching in the eighth inning or earlier in the past, though not in large enough samples to be predictive.
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Phillies' Craig Kimbrel: Signs with Phillies
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Kimbrel signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Kimbrel had an OK season in 2022, recording a 3.75 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 60 innings while racking up 22 saves as the Dodgers' closer. While the 34-year-old reliever has begun to show his age a bit over the past few seasons, he'll be a valuable piece for a Phillies bullpen that ranked in the bottom third in ERA last season (4.27). Kimbrel will likely begin 2023 as Philadelphia's closer.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Left off playoff roster
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Kimbrel will not be on the Dodgers' NLDS roster for the upcoming series against the Padres.
It's certainly not the outcome the Dodgers were expecting when they acquired Kimbrel from the White Sox over the offseason. His 3.75 ERA on the year was below his usual standard but not terrible, but he's lost his manager's trust nonetheless. His ERA actually improved to 3.10 in the second half, but that came with a 4.60 FIP as his strikeout rate cratered to 20.7 percent.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Melts down in high-leverage spot
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Kimbrel dropped to 6-7 on the season after he walked three of the five batters he faced while allowing an unearned run Tuesday in the Dodgers' 4-3 loss to the Padres in 10 innings.
After manager Dave Roberts officially removed him from the closer's role last weekend, Kimbrel turned in a clean inning in his first appearance following the demotion, but he took a big step backward Tuesday. Upon taking the mound in the top of the 10th with a runner on second base, Kimbrel proceeded to retire Ha-Seong Kim on a sacrifice bunt and struck out Manny Machado, but he loaded the bases with a pair of walks, one of which was intentional. Kimbrel then faced Jorge Alfaro, who was able to lay off a four-seam fastball just outside the zone with a 3-2 count to draw a walkoff free pass. In light of yet another poor showing in a high-leverage spot, Kimbrel looks to be further away from returning to closing duties, and he could even find himself at risk of missing out on a spot on the Dodgers' postseason roster.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Loses closer job
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Kimbrel was removed from the Dodgers' closer role Friday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
The decision comes after Kimbrel allowed at least one run in three of his last four games. That followed a stretch in which he allowed just one hit across nine scoreless appearances, but his 6:3 K:BB in those outings was far from convincing. The veteran now owns a 4.14 ERA on the season and has struck out a modest 27.2 percent of opposing batters, well below his career mark of 40.0 percent. A committee approach to the ninth inning appears to be the plan for now in Los Angeles, with Chris Martin, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol among the leading candidates.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Could be losing grip on closer role
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Kimbrel (6-6) earned the win over Arizona on Thursday despite allowing one run on one hit, one walk and one hit batsman over one inning. After the contest, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he'll "think through" the ninth-inning role and "figure out what's best for the ball club," per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Kimbrel came into the contest with the game tied 1-1 in the ninth inning, so it wasn't a save situation. He hit Jake McCarthy with a pitch to begin the frame but had some good fortune when replay determined that McCarthy was tagged out on a stolen-base attempt after initially being called safe. Kimbrel couldn't capitalize on that big call, however, as the next batter -- Christian Walker -- tagged him for a go-ahead solo homer. Kimbrel remained in the contest and issued a two-out walk before finishing off the frame, and he earned the victory when the Dodgers scored twice in the bottom of the ninth. Kimbrel has been shaky of late, allowing at least one run in three of his past four appearances. Roberts' postgame comments suggest that the veteran closer isn't guaranteed to remain in the ninth-inning role as the Dodgers look ahead to what they hope will be a deep postseason run.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Snags win Sunday
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Kimbrel (5-6) earned the extra-inning win over the Giants on Sunday, pitching a perfect inning with one strikeout.
Kimbrel worked the ninth inning to keep the game tied, and the Dodgers took the lead in the 10th. The right-hander hadn't pitched since blowing a save Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks, but it appears that outing was a speed bump and the not the start of another slump. Kimbrel has a 3.96 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 64:22 K:BB through 52.1 innings while adding 22 saves in 27 chances.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Blows save, takes loss Wednesday
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Kimbrel (4-6) took the loss and blew a save in an extra-inning affair against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.
After the Dodgers scored a run in the top of the 10th frame, Kimbrel was called upon to close the door. He walked the first batter he faced but retired the next two hitters before giving up a walkoff three-run home run to Sergio Alcantara. Kimbrel had been pitching well coming into Wednesday, allowing no earned runs and only one hit over his previous nine outings, though only two of those were save situations. Los Angeles has already clinched the NL West and holds the best record in the majors, but Kimbrel's inconsistency is cause for concern as the team heads toward the postseason. The veteran has posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.36 WHIP while taking six losses and blowing five saves through 54 appearances on the campaign.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: No trouble in 22nd save
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Kimbrel pitched a perfect inning with zero strikeouts to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Giants.
Kimbrel has strung together a 7.1-inning scoreless streak, though this was just his second save in that span and his first since Aug. 17. The 34-year-old has been deployed in more non-save situations of late, with Evan Phillips and Chris Martin among the relievers who have seen higher-leverage work. Kimbrel now has a 3.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB with 22 saves in 26 chances through 48.2 innings this year.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Pitches in non-save situation
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Kimbrel failed to strike out any batters in a perfect ninth inning during Sunday's 10-3 win over the Marlins.
Kimbrel has been inconsistent since the start of August, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 7.1 innings over eight appearances this month. Although he picked up his 21st save of the season Wednesday, he was utilized during Sunday's blowout win. Manager Dave Roberts said after the game that he won't exclusively utilize Kimbrel in save situations anymore since the team wants to focus on getting him regular work, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. However, Roberts has expressed a commitment to using Kimbrel as the team's primary closer, and he'll be available in a potential save situation Monday against the Brewers since Roberts feels comfortable using Kimbrel on back-to-back days.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Rebounds for 21st save
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Kimbrel earned a save against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk in a perfect inning.
As has been the case often this season, Kimbrel didn't slide by easily. After retiring the first two batters he faced, the right-hander allowed a single and a walk to put the tying and winning runs on base. However, he was able to get Luis Urias to ground into a fielder's choice to end the contest. This was an important outing for Kimbrel after he allowed an earned run in each of his previous three appearances and blew a save his last time on the mound. Despite the recent hiccups, manager Dave Roberts has expressed a commitment to stick to Kimbrel as the team's closer, and it's worth nothing the veteran pitcher has converted an acceptable 84 percent of his save chances on the campaign.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Sticking as closer
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday after the team's 5-4 loss to the Brewers in 11 innings that Kimbrel will retain the closing gig despite blowing his fourth save of the season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Kimbrel was also dealt his fifth loss of the season after yielding two runs (one earned) and recording just one out Tuesday, which marked the third consecutive appearance in which he yielded an earned run. Though he's arguably the top closer of his generation, the 34-year-old Kimbrel has been one of the few squeaky wheels on an otherwise stacked roster for the 80-35 Dodgers. He now sports a 4.57 ERA and 1.55 WHIP on the season, and if not for his extensive closing experience, Kimbrel may have been removed from the role already. Kimbrel looks like he'll get at least another chance or two to right the ship, but fantasy managers preparing for a possible change at closer down the line may want to look to setup man Evan Phillips, who has gathered one save and 11 holds while turning in an 0.32 ERA and 0.61 WHIP for the Dodgers since the beginning of June.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Handed loss, blown save
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Kimbrel (3-5) took the loss and the blown save during Tuesday's 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Brewers, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk while striking out one in one-third of an inning.
Kimbrel was brought in for the bottom the 11th after Los Angeles took the lead in the top of the inning and struggled to find the zone, walking one and firing only 11 of 20 pitches for strikes. A leadoff Hunter Renfroe single and one-out Luis Urias walk set the stage for a two-run Victor Caratini single to saddle the 34-year-old with the blown save and loss on the same pitch. Kimbrel has struggled since the calendar turned to August, surrendering five total runs across 5.1 innings this month, including permitting runs in four of his last five appearances. It's track record over performance keeping Kimbrel in the closer role right now.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Records 20th save
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Kimbrel allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out one to earn the save Thursday against the Giants.
Kimbrel was handed a three-run lead in the ninth inning and managed to hang on to record his 20th save of the season. He has successfully converted his last six chances and turned in eight scoreless efforts across 10 total appearances since July 9. Kimbrel has a subpar 4.26 ERA with a 54:16 K:BB across 38 innings on the season, though he continues to have a firm grasp on the closer role in Los Angeles.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Notches 19th save
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Kimbrel earned a save over the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter over one inning.
As has been the case more often than not of late, Kimbrel didn't make things look easy. He allowed three straight batters to reach base (via a walk, single and hit-by-pitch) with one out but managed to wiggle out of the jam and emerge with the save. Kimbrel has allowed at least one baserunner in each of his past seven outings but is nonetheless 4-for-4 in converting save chances over that stretch.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Picks up save in shaky performance
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Kimbrel gave up two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning to earn the save in a 5-4 victory over the Rockies on Friday.
Kimbrel was called in to protect a three-run lead on the road at Coors Field in the ninth, and he nearly blew the save after giving up two runs on a bases-loaded single to Randal Grichuk. The final out of the inning came on a nice running catch in foul territory by Trayce Thompson. Despite the shaky performance, Kimbrel picked up his 18th save of the season. Kimbrel hasn't been a lock-down bullpen arm this season, and the veteran closer's ERA has now risen to 4.37. On a positive note, the runs were his first allowed over his last seven outings.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Converts save No. 17
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Kimbrel allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Giants.
Kimbrel picked up his second save in three appearances against the Giants this weekend. Dating back to July 9, the Dodgers' closer has pitched six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out six in that span. He's now 17-for-20 in save chances this year despite a middling 3.97 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 49:14 K:BB through 34 innings overall.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Secures 16th save
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Kimbrel earned a save over the Giants on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one inning.
After the Dodgers took a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Kimbrel was called upon to shut the door. The right-hander allowed a bunt single but was otherwise spotless, closing out the contest on an efficient 12 pitches. KImbrel has bounced back from a rough patch to allow only one run over his past six appearances. During that stretch, he's picked up two wins, two saves and one hold while posting a 7:2 K:BB over 5.2 frames.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Earns win Wednesday
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Kimbrel (3-4) picked up the win against St. Louis on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
With the Dodgers mounting a late-game comeback, manager Dave Roberts elected to go to Kimbrel with Los Angeles down by a run in the eighth inning. The veteran right-hander needed 17 pitches to get through the frame, but he retired the side in order and qualified for the win as a result of his team scoring twice in the top of the ninth. Evan Phillips ended up notching the save for the Dodgers, but Kimbrel isn't in imminent danger of losing his ninth-inning role despite a few recent rough outings. He's converted 15 of 18 save chances on the season.
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Dodgers' Craig Kimbrel: Locks down 15th save
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Kimbrel walked one and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Cubs.
Kimbrel's been a bit spotty of late with nine runs (seven earned) allowed in his last 14 innings. Saturday's save was relatively drama-free despite a leadoff walk to Patrick Wisdom, as Kimbrel retired the next three batters in order. The Dodgers' closer is 15-for-18 in save chances this season while posting a 4.66 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 45:14 K:BB through 29 innings. He has only one stretch of three or more appearances without allowing a run, and that came back in the first month of the campaign in eight outings between April 15 and May 13.
