Craig Kimbrel’s decreased velocity has been an issue since he joined the Cubs, so it seemed like a good sign when he came out throwing 97 mph in the 9th inning of Friday’s game. It wasn’t a save situation because the Cubs had tacked on a little insurance in the top of the inning, but David Ross was sending his closer out there to knock off the rust from the layoff. Maybe the lower-leverage outing would give Kimbrel a chance to take the dog off the leash and let it eat.
It only took three pitches to dispel that notion, as Josh Bell walloped Kimbrel’s third straight — both in a row and on a line — 97 mph four-seamer out to right for a homer.