Los Angeles Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel will miss at least two games after being hit by a comebacker in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres, manager Dave Roberts said.
With one out in the ninth inning, a 100.5-mph line drive by Jake Cronenworth struck the veteran right-hander in the upper back.
Roberts and trainer Nate Lucero checked on Kimbrel, who stayed in the game only to suffer his third blown save of the season.
Cronenworth, who reached on an infield single on the play, scored on Luke Voit’s RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. C.J. Abrams, running for Voit, scored on Eric Hosmer’s single to give the Padres the lead and chase Kimbrel.
“We took a scan, scans were negative,” Roberts said after the game. “It was kind of right below the scapula. [He] almost made the play. Just unfortunate how that inning played out.
“But as far as health, he’ll be down for a couple days and the expectation is he’ll be ready go then.”
Kimbrel, 34, is 1-4 with a 4.78 ERA and 14 saves in 28 appearances this season. The eight-time All-Star is the active major league leader with 386 career saves.
The Dodgers open a three-game series at home against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
–Field Level Media