Boston Red Sox: Craig Kimbrel owns the 9th inning and beyond
The Boston Red Sox are barely playing .500 baseball, but closer Craig Kimbrel has been lights out in the season’s first month.
The Kraken has been in full effect so far in 2017 for the Boston Red Sox.
Closer Craig Kimbrel–when opportunities have presented themselves–is shutting the door on opponents in a highly efficient manner.
While not quite on par with the record pace starting pitcher Chris Sale is setting, Kimbrel is striking out batters reminiscent of his days with the Atlanta Braves.
Kimbrel’s stability at the back end of the staff is a reason the Red Sox are even sitting where they are at this point. In sixteen appearances, the Red Sox are a perfect 16-0 when he takes the hill.
Eleven of those have converted into saves, with only one blown save among his appearances. He has struck out 33 batters in 16.2 innings. Kimbrel (2-0) has struck out 12 of the last 14 batters he’s faced, including an immaculate inning against the Brewers in which he struck out three on nine pitches.
The intimidating closer has only allowed six hits and two earned runs this season.
All in all pretty solid for a who 12 months ago was battling through a rough debut in a Red Sox uniform.
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Finding a groove
The first half of 2016 saw Kimbrel struggle at times. He was getting saves, but many of his appearances were nail-biting affairs.
The success of a closer can sometimes offer a flash-in-the-pan type of results. Windows of greatness can be followed by years of struggle.
Through the end of June last season, Kimbrel had locked down 16 saves but his ERA was hovering above four. He had allowed 17 hits and nine earned runs.
He was not the dominating closer that became the career saves leader for the Braves in 2014. Nor was he the same man that pitched 38.1 scoreless innings in 2011 or had a 16.7 K/9 in 2012.
A knee injury last summer found Kimbrel on the DL. After a month away, Kimbrel has appeared to found his groove again.
August of 2016 saw Kimbrel strikeout 33 in 20 innings, collecting 14 saves with a 0.82 ERA.
Next: Chris Sale is making history
He has been lights out since. And if the back end of the starting rotation can settle in, Kimbrel’s new entrance song Stranglehold will be played a lot more.
For the Boston Red Sox and Kimbrel, that’s exactly the type of good news this team loves to hear.