UPDATE (Sept. 23, 4:15 p.m. PT): Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Craig Kimbrel was removed from the closer role.
After putting together an encouraging stretch that coincided with keeping “Let It Go” for an entrance song, Craig Kimbrel again is mired in inconsistency during his first season as Los Angeles Dodgers closer.
Kimbrel’s latest woes came in the ninth inning of a tied game with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it nearly cost the Dodgers a third consecutive loss. Kimbrel hit the leadoff batter with a curveball but benefitted from Jake McCarthy briefly coming off of the bag and being tagged out on a stolen base attempt.
Christian Walker then sent a hanging breaking ball halfway up the pavilion in center field, though only for a solo home run. The Dodgers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth that saw Mookie Betts deliver a pinch-hit, walk-off single.
Not only did Kimbrel avoid a blown save because the Dodgers didn’t have a lead at the time he entered, but the right-hander was credited with the win. However, Kimbrel’s standing as Dodgers closer appears to be on shaky ground.
“You can’t hit the leadoff hitter with the breaking ball. Strike the breaking ball, then you yank it to hit the batter. We got fortunate with the stolen base attempt,” manager Dave Roberts said after the win.
“There was a walk in there after the homer, and it was a 2-2 breaking ball that just rolled into Walker and he hit it out. I think the stuff is starting to slide a little bit, fastball velocity. I’ve just got to continue to look at this. We’ve got to have our best guys at the backend, so I’ll continue to think through it.”
On the season, Kimbrel is 6-6 with 22 saves, five blown saves, a 4.14 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Kimbrel is on pace to set the second-highest ERA of his career and third-worst WHIP. Additionally, Kimbrel’s 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings would be a career low.
Will Craig Kimbrel remain Dodgers closer?
As the Dodgers march toward the postseason, the likelihood of Kimbrel remaining in the closer role come October appears to lessen.
“It’s different when you’re 97 (mph) and you’ve got a little bit more margin,” Roberts said. “But when you’re 93 or 94 (mph), that’s just not the case. This is a point in time where certainly performance matters. We need our best.
“Obviously the ninth inning is unlike any other inning. But I do think that having other guys that have finished games for us is a good thing. So yeah, it’s something I’m just going to think through and figure out what’s best for the ballclub.”
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