Craig Kimbrel

Active

Kansas City Royals · RP

Age 386' 0" · 215 lbsThrows Right

#726 Current#669 Preseason

FBaseball Overview

At 38 years old, Kimbrel enters 2026 as a veteran reliever trying to stabilize his role with Tampa Bay after a rough early-season stretch marked by a 5.32 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 22 innings. The Hall of Fame-caliber closer's resume—highlighted by nine All-Star selections and dominant strikeout prowess—suggests he still possesses elite stuff, but the early returns raise concerns about whether his stuff has finally declined with age. Fantasy managers seeking saves should exercise caution, as Kimbrel has yet to record a save this season and appears to be in a setup role rather than closing out games. However, his 22 strikeouts in limited action offer some appeal for K-based leagues if he can regain command and lock down a clearer path to save opportunities as the season progresses.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2010	Atlanta Braves	21	4	0	1	0.44	1.21	40	20.2	16
2011	Atlanta Braves	79	4	3	46	2.10	1.04	127	77.0	32
2012	Atlanta Braves	63	3	1	42	1.01	0.65	116	62.2	14
2013	Atlanta Braves	68	4	3	50	1.21	0.88	98	67.0	20
2014	Atlanta Braves	63	0	3	47	1.61	0.91	95	61.2	26
2015	San Diego Padres	61	4	2	39	2.58	1.04	87	59.1	22
2016	Boston Red Sox	57	2	6	31	3.40	1.09	83	53.0	30
2017	Boston Red Sox	67	5	0	35	1.43	0.68	126	69.0	14
2018	Boston Red Sox	63	5	1	42	2.74	0.99	96	62.1	31
2019	Chicago Cubs	23	0	4	13	6.53	1.60	30	20.2	12
2020	Chicago Cubs	18	0	1	2	5.28	1.43	28	15.1	12
2021	2 teams▼	63	4	5	24	2.26	0.91	100	59.2	23
2022	Los Angeles Dodgers	63	6	7	22	3.75	1.32	72	60.0	28
2023	Philadelphia Phillies	71	8	6	23	3.26	1.04	94	69.0	28
2024	Baltimore Orioles	57	7	5	23	5.33	1.36	73	52.1	31
2025	2 teams▼	14	0	1	0	2.25	1.42	17	12.0	7
2026	3 teams▼	46	1	5	1	4.50	1.35	40	46.0	22
Career	Totals	897	57	53	441	2.69	1.04	1322	867.2	368

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2008	2 teams▼	12	0	1	2	6	0.47	0.79	27	19.0	10
2009	4 teams▼	49	0	2	3	18	2.85	1.25	103	60	45
2010	Gwinnett Braves	48	0	3	2	23	1.62	1.13	83	55.2	35
2016	Pawtucket Red Sox	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	3.00	0	0.1	0
2019	Iowa Cubs	4	1	0	0	0	2.45	0.82	4	3.2	1
2025	3 teams▼	39	0	1	2	8	3.28	1.12	45	35.2	20
2026	St. Lucie Mets	1	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00	1	1.0	0
Career	Totals	157	2	8	7	53	2.25	1.13	271	176	107

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Last Week / Last Month

Current season · MLB only

7 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
7	0	5.3	0-3	0	7.50	2.33	5	4

30 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
30	0	29.1	1-3	1	3.68	1.26	22	16

Game Log2026 MLB

Loading game log…

Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo93.6 mph

Avg Spin2314 rpm

Whiff %23.1%

K %20.4%

BB %11.2%

Hard Hit %36.6%

Barrel %5.3%

xERA4.24

xBA Against0.244

xSLG Against0.374

BA Against0.238

SLG Against0.375

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2010

Atlanta Braves

0.44

1.21

20.2

2011

Atlanta Braves

2.10

1.04

127

77.0

2012

Atlanta Braves

1.01

0.65

116

62.2

2013

Atlanta Braves

1.21

0.88

67.0

2014

Atlanta Braves

1.61

0.91

61.2

2015

San Diego Padres

2.58

1.04

59.1

2016

Boston Red Sox

3.40

1.09

53.0

2017

Boston Red Sox

1.43

0.68

126

69.0

2018

Boston Red Sox

2.74

0.99

62.1

2019

Chicago Cubs

6.53

1.60

20.2

2020

Chicago Cubs

5.28

1.43

15.1

2021

2 teams▼

2.26

0.91

100

59.2

2022

Los Angeles Dodgers

3.75

1.32

60.0

2023

Philadelphia Phillies

3.26

1.04

69.0

2024

Baltimore Orioles

5.33

1.36

52.1

2025

2 teams▼

2.25

1.42

12.0

2026

3 teams▼

4.50

1.35

46.0

Career

Totals

897

441

2.69

1.04

1322

867.2

368

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2008

2 teams▼

0.47

0.79

19.0

2009

4 teams▼

2.85

1.25

103

2010

Gwinnett Braves

1.62

1.13

55.2

2016

Pawtucket Red Sox

0.00

3.00

0.1

2019

Iowa Cubs

2.45

0.82

3.2

2025

3 teams▼

3.28

1.12

35.2

2026

St. Lucie Mets

0.00

1.0

Career

Totals

157

2.25

1.13

271

176

107

W-L

ERA

WHIP

5.3

0-3

7.50

2.33

W-L

ERA

WHIP

29.1

1-3

3.68

1.26