Craig Kimbrel Could Be Losing Closer's Role
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts was as non-committal as he's been all year about closer Craig Kimbrel's usage in the ninth inning after the 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night. Roberts noted Kimbrel's stuff has "started to backslide" and repeated that the team needs to have "our best" in those spots at this time of the year. "It's something that I'm just gonna think through," Roberts said. Kimbrel got the win on Thursday, but he allowed a solo home run and a walk and hit a batter in the outing. The 34-year-old veteran has 22 saves on the year, but he hasn't been great by any means with a 4.14 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 54 1/3 innings pitched. If Kimbrel is booted from the ninth-inning role down the stretch or in the playoffs, it could be either Evan Phillips or Alex Vesia who get the save chances in LA.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya