The Cubs finally have their closer. Now they just have to find a way to make him relevant enough to start making a run in the too-close-for-comfort National League Central.
Three weeks after he signed a free agent contract, seven-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel on Wednesday was en route to Chicago from Class AAA Iowa – where he finished a brief minor-league prep assignment with a 1-2-3 ninth inning Tuesday night.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he expected to a roster decision for Kimbrel on Thursday.
The Cubs have operated with one fewer reliever over the past week while employing a six-man rotation, putting starting prospect Adbert Alzolay – one of the few pitchers with options – in play as the corresponding move.
Maddon said Wednesday he and the front office still hadn’t determined whether Alzolay will stick around and make another start next week after his promising start Tuesday.
Alzolay said Wednesday he had not been told what’s next for him.
What’s certain is that a club without a closer since Brandon Morrow went on the disabled list at the All-Star break last year has a seven-time All-Star closer on deck for a team that has muddled to a 14-18 record over the last five weeks.
“We’ve still got to get to that ninth inning,” said setup man Steve Cishek, who has two of the saves in the Cubs’ six chances in June. “We’re going to be excited to see him pitch. The place is going to be electric when he goes out and throws his first game, especially here at Wrigley. All of that energy is what our team feeds off of.”
