Dodgers Exclude Ex-Red Sox Craig Kimbrel From NLDS Roster

Former Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel won’t be making any postseason appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.

Before kicking off their best-of-five National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, the Dodgers announced their 26-man roster. However, Kimbrel, now 34 years old following his 13th big league campaign, was not included.

Craig Kimbrel earned his eighth All-Star honor as a member of the White Sox last season.

In his first season with the Dodgers, following four years in Chicago (three with the Cubs, one with the White Sox), Kimbrel made 63 appearances out of the bullpen. The four-time NL saves leader went 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA, recording 22 saves while allowing 25 earned runs off 51 base hits in 60 innings pitched. The Dodgers closer has now reached 394 career saves.

Kimbrel also recorded a career-lowest 27.7% strikeout rate, making his final bullpen appearance for the Dodgers on Oct. 5 against the Colorado Rockies — striking out the side in one inning on the mound.

Kimbrel is set to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent after reaching the end of a three-year contract he initially signed with the Cubs in 2019.