Craig Kimbrel. Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Orioles closer makes history amid dominant resurgence

By Carly Wimer | Last updated Jun 13, 2024 12:18 PM ET

The big question for the Orioles coming into the 2024 season was how to replace injured closer Felix Bautista. Looking to build on their first postseason appearance in six years, they signed one of the most decorated closers of all time, Craig Kimbrel.

Kimbrel's start to his Orioles career included seven saves, three wins and just one run allowed over 11 innings. The 36-year-old went from ninth in all-time saves to seventh in that 11-game stretch. Then came a six-game slump stemming from an upper back issue in which he gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings and was temporarily removed from his role as the Orioles closer.

But the future Hall of Famer has found his groove again and is in a dominant stretch, allowing just one walk and two hits while recording eight saves in his last 11 appearances. Kimbrel, who's recorded the fifth-most saves in baseball history, reached another milestone in his 808th career appearance on Wednesday. He struck out Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic for his 1226th career strikeout, surpassing Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith for the third-most strikeouts by a reliever in major league history.

Craig Kimbrel has 1,226 career strikeouts to break a tie with former Orioles closer Lee Smith for the third-most by a reliever in major league history. #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) June 13, 2024

For the year, over 28 games, Kimbrel is 4-2 with 16 saves in 19 chances. He has a 2.59 ERA, a 12.60 strikeout rate and a 0.95 WHIP. Even with his six-game slump, Kimbrel's current ERA, FIP, WHIP, strikeout rate, batting average against, and hits and homers allowed per nine are all better than they were last season in Philadelphia.

“It’s been simple,” Kimbrel told MASN Sports earlier this month about his resurgence. “It’s just throwing strikes and not making bad pitches.”

“Yeah, I mean, from where we were at the start of the year, I was able to have a good start and watch my stuff kind of build up as we went," he said. "I had a little stretch where physically I wasn’t feeling so great and tried to throw through it. Didn’t work out so well. But yeah, I’m getting my foot down. I feel on time and the ball is coming out good now. Hope I can stay there."

Perhaps he's snuck up on a few people, but Kimbrel and the Orioles and have been on a good roll in recent weeks. Baltimore is looking more and more like a legitimate World Series contender if it can keep it up.

Carly Wimer

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