Kimbrel is 21 of 25 in saves for 1st place Baltimore Orioles:
GDW Analysis:
BALTIMORE: Now in his 15th season as a closer in Major League Baseball, former Wallace State Lion Craig Kimbrel has found a groove with the Baltimore Orioles.
Kimbrel was acquired by the Orioles before the start of the 2024 season. His contribution has paid off with 21 saves out of 25 opportunities and the Orioles currently in first in the American League's East Division.
The right hander who played for Randy Putman at Wallace State in the late 90s, has shown his relief stuff in back to back nights helping the Birds to a pair of victories over the Seattle Mariners.
On Tuesday, Kimbrel entered the 9th and finished off a 2 to 0 shutout for the Orioles.
He was asked to provide assistance Wednesday evening in which he did with a scoreless 9th as the Orioles earned a 4 to 1 triumph.
The Orioles went into Independence Day with the best record from the AL, 55 & 31. Baltimore has done well in road games, a mark of 26 & 14. The wins against the Mariners have come at Seattle.
Right now, Kimbrel and his Oriole mates have a 2 game lead on the New York Yankees in the east standings.
The Orioles close out their series in Seattle on the 4th then catch a flight to Oakland to play the Athletics this weekend.
Kimbrel's 21 saves has him a tie in MLB for 4th with the Braves' closer, Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias earned his 21st save Wednesday at Truist Park in a 3 to 1 victory for the Braves against the San Francisco Giants.
Ryan Hensley of the Cardinals is the leader in saves at 31 followed by Emmanuel Clase of Cleveland with 25 and Washington's Kyle Flannagan with 23.
Kimbrel's ERA ranks at 2.31. The right hander has struck out 48 batters on the season.
His save ratio is currently .840 with 21 saves converted in 25 assignments.
Kimbrel has shown good ability in slowing down opposing hitting attacks. He has been in 19 road games, a total of 17 innings and has struck out 22 batters.
Kimbrel is well known for the beginning of his MLB career in becoming the closer for the Braves from 2010 to 2014 following his time at Wallace State.
Kimbrel has seen his career in a journeyman way, going to the Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies, Padres, Cubs, Dodgers and now with the Orioles.
Wednesday was the 438th save in the Kimbrel career.
From 2011 to 2014 with the Braves, Kimbrel accounted for 46, 42, 50 and 47 saves.
His consistency in the current era shows Kimbrel with 22, 23 and 21 in save conversions from 2022 to this season.
Kimbrel is 4th all time in the MLB in saves with 438, moving past Francisco Rodriguez on Wednesday night in Seattle.
Marino Rivera, formerly of the Yankees, has the most all time with 652.
The hard work of Kimbrel as a closer in 15 years has surged him past well known relievers like Kenley Jansen, Dennis Eckersley, Billy Wagner and Jonathan Papelbon.
Lee Smith, a good closer for the Cubs and Orioles in the 90s, is ahead of Kimbrel with 478 saves.
In a league breakdown, Kimbrel is 2nd to Clase in the American League. The other three ranked in the Top 5 come from National League teams.
Kimbrel was an All Star a couple of seasons ago when he pitched for the Phillies.
His numbers are very good to possibly be chosen for the AL all star pitching staff.
That will take place on Sunday with the All Star game next Tuesday at the home of the Texas Rangers.
Photo of Craig Kimbrel in celebrating a recent save for the Orioles.
Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles.
