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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Baltimore Orioles designated veteran closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment on Wednesday in a major shakeup by the American League contenders.
Baltimore, which has been ceding ground to the New York Yankees in the AL East ever since the All-Star break, had little choice. Kimbrel had a 5.33 earned-run average and six blown saves in 29 chances this season.
Although Kimbrel has 440 career saves — second among active pitchers and fifth all-time — the Orioles had little choice as they seek to establish their bullpen in anticipation of what they hope is a long October playoff run.
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Through Tuesday, the Orioles (84-67) were four games behind the Yankees (88-63) in the American League East with 11 games to play, a virtually insurmountable deficit in the division race. They still lead the Kansas City Royals (82-70) by 2.5 games for the top wild-card seed, which gets with a bye in the first round of the postseason.
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More concerningly, the Orioles have a 27-34 record since July 8. They've scored the second-most runs in the American League this season but their bullpen has been a sore spot all year. While their starters are 58-46 this year, their relievers are 26-21. Kimbrel is responsible for nine of the team's 20 blown saves.
The last of his 22 saves this season came on July 7 — coinciding with the Orioles' slide in the standings. Pitching in a middle relief role since then, he's allowed 25 runs (23 earned) in 19 games. His ERA has risen from 2.47 to 4.18.
Pitching in a middle relief role since then, he's allowed 25 runs (23 earned) in 19 games. His ERA has risen from 2.47 to 4.18.
Besides Kimbrel, the bullpen includes Yennier Cano, Seranthony Dominguez, Cionel Perez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin. Dominguez has racked up 10 saves since Kimbrel's demotion.
With incumbent closer Felix Bautista missing the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, the Orioles signed Kimbrel to a one-year, $13 million free agent contract in Dec. 2023.
The right-hander has pitched for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in a career that began in 2010.
Although the Phillies reached the National League Championship Series with Kimbrel in the closer's role a year ago, he allowed four runs in four NLCS appearances against the Diamondbacks. Kimbrel was the losing pitcher in two of the Phillies' four losses in the series.
Kimbrel did not factor into the Dodgers' 2022 postseason run at all.
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