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Craig Kimbrel | Relief Pitcher

Team: Atlanta Braves
Age / DOB:  (24) / 5/28/1988
Ht / Wt:  5'11' / 205
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Craig Kimbrel picked up an easy save Saturday as the Braves defeated the Dodgers at Turner Field.
Kimbrel used only 10 pitches in all and yet still struck out two of the three batters he faced. He's had some uncharacteristic struggles this year, but they were never all that concerning. The hard-throwing right-hander might be the best reliever in baseball. May 18 - 10:13 PM

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Player News

Date:
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth inning Thursday against the Giants for his 100th career save.

Kimbrel blew saves in three out of his last five opportunities, but there wasn't much drama in this one. While the hard-throwing right-hander gave up a two-out double to Brandon Crawford, he was able to get Brandon Belt to ground out to first to end it and lock down a 6-3 victory. We're confident that his recent rough patch will turn out to be a blip.
May 10 - 1:46 AM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, allowing two solo home runs as the Braves fell to the Reds.

The loss was Kimbrel's first of the season, but more concerning is the fact that the fireballer has now blown three of his last five save opportunities. After registering two strikeouts to start the inning, Kimbrel allowed a pinch-hit home run to Devin Mesoraco before Shin-Soo Choo hit his second home run of the night to end the game. Kimbrel has allowed three home runs on the season after allowing just three all of last year. A few chinks in the armor doesn't mean Kimbrel should lose his title as the best closer in the game, but it's at least worth watching to see if his struggles continue in the weeks ahead.
May 7 - 11:37 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel blew his second save of the season Friday against the Mets.

Kimbrel entered the top of the ninth with a one-run lead, but he gave up a long game-tying homer to David Wright and the Mets eventually won it in extras. It was the first home run allowed by the hard-throwing right-hander since August 31 of last season, a span of 25 appearances. Hey, it happens. He should be fine.
May 3 - 11:18 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel blew his first save of the season Wednesday in the Braves' extra-innings loss to the Rockies.

Even the best of the best have bad days. Kimbrel gave up a double to Jonathan Herrera, a single to Troy Tulowitzki, then a two-run double to Dexter Fowler, squandering Atlanta's ninth-inning 5-3 lead. Colorado won it in the bottom of the 12th. Kimbrel is now 8-for-9 in save opportunities this season with a 1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 14/3 K/BB ratio in 9 2/3 innings.
Apr 24 - 7:12 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel retired the Cubs in order in the ninth inning on Friday, notching his second save of the young season.

He struck out one in the game and is now perfect through his first two appearances. With all of the uncertainty in bullpens around the league, fantasy owners can rejoice in the truly elite option that Kimbrel has become.
Apr 5 - 10:28 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel was shaky once again Saturday, giving up a two-run homer to Rick Ankiel in the ninth against the Astros.

Kimbrel still hasn't found his good breaking ball and hasn't been his normal self without it. We don't have any long-term concerns just yet, but it's possible his struggles will bleed into April.
Mar 23 - 5:40 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel gave up a run for the third time in four spring outings Saturday against the Astros.

Kimbrel has allowed five hits and five walks in four innings this spring. Most likely, he'll work through whatever is ailing him over the next few weeks, but the problem is that Team USA was counting on him to close during the WBC. Manager Joe Torre and company have to be a bit nervous about reserving him for the ninth with the way he's struggling.
Mar 2 - 4:20 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel surrendered two runs -- one earned -- in his inning versus the Phillies on Thursday.

Ryan Howard took him deep. Kimbrel has allowed two earned runs in three innings this spring. That's no real concern for the Braves yet, but it might be for Team USA, which is looking at Kimbrel as a closer.
Feb 28 - 5:21 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday in the Braves' 4-0 win over the Pirates.

Kimbrel did allow a hit, but by striking out three of four batters, he ended the year with 116 strikeouts of 231 batters faced. He's the first pitcher ever to throw more than a handful of innings and strike out more than half of the batters he faced.
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 03:32:00 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel earned his 41st save of the season in the Braves' win over the Mets on Saturday.

Kimbrel tossed a perfect ninth inning, fanning two. He has a 1.03 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 113/14 K/BB ratio in 61 1/3 innings, and should appear on some NL Cy Young ballots.
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 09:59:00 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Thanks to a wild pitch, Craig Kimbrel fanned four batters in just one inning of work Wednesday, as he also notched his 40th save in Atlanta's 3-0 win over the Marlins.

After striking out Greg Dobbs looking to start off the ninth, Kimbrel fanned Donovan Solano, but strike three got away from Brian McCann. Kimbrel "settled down" to punch out John Buck and Gil Velazquez to nail down the save. Kimbrel has now tallied 40 saves in back-to-back seasons, while he's the owner of an absurd 1.04 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 111/14 K/BB ratio through 60 1/3 innings. He's the best closer in baseball.
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 10:48:00 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel notched his 39th save of the season with a perfect inning in Sunday's win over the Phillies.

Kimbrel finished out the one-run win in style, striking out Ryan Howard swinging to end it. His 39 saves tie the Cardinals' Jason Motte for the National League lead, and he also boasts a 1.08 ERA and 0.67 WHIP.
Sun, Sep 23, 2012 04:24:00 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel is not available out of the bullpen Saturday.

Eric O'Flaherty also isn't expected to pitch. Kimbrel has made three straight relief appearances so the Braves are resting him as a precautionary measure. Jonny Venters, Chad Durbin and Luis Avilan could all get looks in a save situation.
Source: David O'Brien on Twitter
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 02:38:00 PM
Craig Kimbrel - R - Braves

Craig Kimbrel shut down the Padres in the ninth inning on Tuesday, earning his 32nd save of the season.

He allowed a leadoff single to Everth Cabrera, then responded by striking out the next three hitters in order. He's having another epic season, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 86/12 K/BB ratio over his 49 innings.
Wed, Aug 29, 2012 12:54:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Brian McCann
2Gerald Laird
3Evan Gattis
1B1Freddie Freeman
2B1Dan Uggla
2Blake DeWitt
SS1Andrelton Simmons
2Ramiro Pena
3B1Chris Johnson
2Juan Francisco
3Ramiro Pena
LF1Justin Upton
2Reed Johnson
CF1B.J. Upton
2Jordan Schafer
RF1Jason Heyward
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Tim Hudson
2Kris Medlen
3Paul Maholm
4Mike Minor
5Julio Teheran
6Brandon Beachy
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Craig Kimbrel
2Jonny Venters
3Eric O'Flaherty
4Jordan Walden
5Luis Ayala
6Cristhian Martinez
7Luis Avilan
8Cory Gearrin
9Anthony Varvaro
10David Carpenter
11Cory Rasmus