Craig Kimbrel Showcased Best Velocity of Season Against Giants Tuesday Night
If you were worried about Craig Kimbrel after he went on the 10-day IL, I have good news for you: His fastball was blazing Tuesday night against the Giants. He sat 97-98 mph on eight heaters, displaying some sick ride to secure a 5-3 Cubs.
Craig Kimbrel's 8 fastballs were HOT tonight🔥
MPH:
98
98
97
98
98
97
98
96 pic.twitter.com/pZMGEIY7hq— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) August 21, 2019
On July 23, Kimbrel’s velocity dipped below his typical ~97 mph average to ~95 mph. He stayed right around that lower mark until he was placed on the IL on August 5.
Kimbrel being back — like, really back — adds to the returns of Steve Cishek and Brandon Kintzler to once again give the Cubs a full ‘pen. If there was a silver lining to the recent injury woes, it’s that Rowan Wick emerged as a legitimate late-game relief option. Teams will have to deal with some heavy heat when Wick, who sits at 96 mph, and Kimbrel go back-to-back out of the ‘pen.