PHILADELPHIA – The Braves could breathe a little easier Wednesday afternoon when closer Craig Kimbrel reported no discomfort in his pitching shoulder during a 15-pitch bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park.
The National League saves leader was held out of Monday’s series opener against the Phillies due to soreness in the shoulder in his most recent appearance Saturday.
“He played catch, threw a 15-pitch side, said he felt great,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said after Kimbrel threw Wednesday. “So we’ll see how the night unfolds with the weather and how he feels, how we want to use him.”
The temperature was in the upper 40s when Kimbrel threw in the bullpen Wednesday afternoon.
“It was actually 14 (pitches) — I felt good enough that I didn’t have to throw 15,” Kimbrel joked, and his demeanor seemed a good indication of how it went. “Ball was coming out of my hand good, off-speed was good, nothing was uncomfortable. That’s what I wanted to feel and that’s what we felt today, so hopefully I get back out there.”
Kimbrel and the Braves had said nothing publicly about his shoulder until after Monday’s 9-6 win. Gonzalez disclosed the issue when asked if he considered bringing in Kimbrel during the eighth inning (when Luis Avilan allowed five runs to blow a 5-1 lead) or the ninth inning after the Braves regained the lead on Dan Uggla’s grand slam.
Gonzalez answered that Kimbrel was unavailable to pitch Monday because of a sore shoulder and would be day-to-day, emphasizing that neither the pitcher nor Braves officials were concerned because Kimbrel characterized it as typical soreness that most pitchers go through during a season.
Kimbrel felt fine when played catch in the outfield Tuesday before a game against the Phillies was rained out. But the first test since Saturday came when he threw off the mound Wednesday afternoon.
“I didn’t really throw hard enough to feel anything (Tuesday),” he said. “I threw today, ramped it up to see what it felt like, and it felt great. So it’s exciting. I’m ready to get back out there in a save situation.”
The forecast was for temperatures falling to 43 degrees by 10 p.m. Wednesday, and Gonzalez said the weather could play a role in the decision whether to use Kimbrel if there was a save situation.
“It matters to me, because all of a sudden it’s 10:15 at night and he’s been sitting around for 6, 7 hours,” Gonzalez said. “But we’ll see. Sometimes he’ll talk us into it.”
The teams play a series finale Thursday afternoon, when the forecast calls for sunny with a high of 53 degrees in Philadelphia.
Kimbrel was asked whether he was anxious to get back in a game after not pitching since Saturday.
“I’m always anxious,” said the pitcher, who had a 1.59 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings before Wednesday. “I’m not real big on sitting around watching. I like to be hands-on, or feel like I’m doing something productive. So the last three days of sitting around has been driving me crazy. It’s good to be the ball back in my hand and get off the mound.”
