Prior to Game 1 of the 2022 National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers postseason roster was announced and it did not include Craig Kimbrel among the 26 players.
Although the 34-year-old spent much of the season as the team’s closer, he ultimately lost that role in late September due to an inconsistent year with more struggles than positive notes. “It was a tough conversation,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of leaving Kimbrel off the NLDS roster.
“It’s a person and player I have so much respect for. It hasn’t been a consistent year for him. He accepted the role of getting out of the closer’s role as a professional and was hoping and looking forward to an opportunity here in the DS.
“We just have other guys that we felt had been more consistent and that match up with these guys better. Not to say that it can’t change. My expectation, our expectation, is that Craig will be ready. But we wouldn’t be here without him.
“I can’t say enough about the character of Craig Kimbrel because, as a potential Hall of Famer, that’s not an easy conversation. He was very disappointed, as he should be.”
Among qualified Dodgers relief pitchers, only Phil Bickford, who is on the 15-day injured list, had a higher ERA (4.72) than Kimbrel’s 3.75, and all 12 of the 13 pitchers who made the playoff roster posted a lower ERA. Dustin May (4.50) was the only pitcher with a higher ERA due to a few poor outings after returning from Tommy John Surgery in August, but possesses game-changing upside.
“I’m sure he handled it great,” Clayton Kershaw said. “I think Craig has been around a long time, understands it. He is maybe one of the best closers, top three or four closers ever. We all know what he has done in this game, and it doesn’t take anything away from that.
“It’s just at this very moment he didn’t make this roster. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to use him later, or whatever it may be. I’m sure he handled it great. That’s just the guy Craig is.”
Dave Roberts confident in Dodgers closer situation without Craig Kimbrel
Without Kimbrel on the team, the Dodgers’ bullpen doesn’t have much experience closing out games, and even less in save opportunities on the biggest stage. But despite the lack of a true closer, Roberts is confident in the talent and depth of his bullpen to get outs in the late innings.
“I think the simple answer is one through 13,” Roberts said. “I just don’t think that teams can compare with the arm talent that we have. Guys that finished games for us this year, previous years.
“Yeah, we don’t have that dedicated closer, but I do think that with the arm talent, the buy-in from these guys, the culture that they have, they’re ready to take the ball and take down whatever part of the lineup when called upon. A lot of good players that are just not afraid of the moment. I trust them all.
“Yeah, it’s not kind of the standard or conventional, but I feel confident in whoever we’re going to run out there in the ninth inning.”
In Game 1 of the NLDS, Chris Martin received the first chance to close the game as part of the closer-by-commitee, and he pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the only postseason save of his career.
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