In back-to-back NLCS showdowns, the spotlight has unfortunately been on Phillies’ reliever Craig Kimbrel, who faced late-inning hiccups, culminating in a heart-wrenching defeat on Friday night. What initially seemed like a dominant 2-0 lead for the Phillies over the Diamondbacks in the pivotal best-of-seven series has now been leveled to a gripping 2-2.
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Post the narrow 6-5 setback on Friday, all eyes were on Phillies’ manager Rob Thomson. When probed about Kimbrel’s current position in the bullpen, especially given his recent struggles, Thomson remarked, “It’s a matter we need to discuss.” He further contemplated, “Perhaps we need to consider a slightly less pressurized role for him? I need to deliberate on this with Caleb [Cotham, the pitching coach] and ascertain our next steps.”
Kimbrel, at 35, entered the fourth game of the series with a concerning ERA of 6.75, allowing three walks in just over an inning’s work. His performance in Game 4 added salt to the wound as he yielded three crucial runs, with Alek Thomas delivering a soul-crushing two-run, game-leveling homer in the eighth inning. This stands out as Kimbrel’s inaugural blown save in his otherwise illustrious playoff journey.
Though his regular-season performance showcased his prowess — with a 3.26 ERA, an impressive 3.36 K/BB ratio over 69 innings, and securing 23 out of 28 save chances — his recent form is a concern. Given the high stakes, Thomson may need to recalibrate his strategies to ensure the Phillies have the best chance in the upcoming postseason encounters.