Kimbrel allowed two hits with no walks or strikeouts across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

After retiring the first two batters he faced without incident, Kimbrel surrendered consecutive singles. However, he got Brandon Belt to line out to end the game and notch his seventh save of the season. Since allowing five earned runs across his first 2.2 innings this season, Kimbrel has turned in eight consecutive scoreless outings. He still has a bloated 4.22 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, but has maintained his status as one of the best closers in the game with this strong stretch.

Kimbrel worked around two walks to throw a scoreless ninth inning and record the save Saturday against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel hit a couple bumps in the road immediately upon arrival to Chicago, but he has been pretty much his old self since, allowing just one hit while going 5-for-5 in save chances in his last six appearances. The veteran has now worked back-to-back days and four of the last five, so he will likely be unavailable Sunday.

Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one walk and three strikeouts to record the save in Friday's 6-5 win over the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

After a bit of a rocky start with his new team, Kimbrel has settled into a groove, as he now has five straight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and four saves since blowing a save chance on July 3. The 31-year-old still has a high 5.87 ERA, but that number should continue to come down if he keeps pitching like this, and the saves should keep piling up, too.

Kimbrel had two strikeouts and didn't allow a baserunner during the ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel delivered a ninth inning with no drama Wednesday as he needed only 12 pitches to retire the side in order. The 31-year-old has allowed five runs through his first 6.2 innings with the Cubs, but he appears to be settling in with four straight scoreless outings.

Kimbrel set the Pirates down in order during the ninth inning to record his third save in a 4-3 victory Friday afternoon.

EDGE Analysis

He didn't register a strikeout, but Kimbrel induced a flyout and two groundouts to nail down the one-run win. Since yielding five runs over two outings against the Pirates last week, Kimbrel hasn't allowed a hit and walked one batter with three strikeouts in his last two appearances, both of which were saves. It's still a very small sample size, but Kimbrel is 3-for-4 in save chances with a 9.64 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings this season.

Kimbrel had three strikeouts and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning to secure the save Saturday versus the White Sox. He also hit a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel started the inning strong with a three-pitch strikeout, but he made things interesting as a hit by pitch and a walk brought the tying run to the plate with two outs. The 31-year-old was then able to retire Jose Abreu on three pitches to finish the game. Kimbrel has converted two of three save opportunities and given up five runs over four outings in what has been an up-and-down start with the Cubs, but Saturday's outing was certainly a quality rebound performance.

Kimbrel (0-1) allowed two runs on one hit with a walk during a blown save in the ninth inning against the Pirates on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

After blowing an early lead, the Cubs mounted a comeback in the seventh and turned to their newly signed closer to win their first game of this series, but Kimbrel simply added to the Cubs blues. After retiring the first hitter, Kimbrel recorded only one more out in the next four batters, and that was on a sacrifice fly that lost the game. It's still a very small sample size, but Kimbrel has yielded five runs in 2.2 innings (16.88 ERA) in three appearances with the Cubs this year.

Kimbrel allowed three runs on three hits over an inning of work in Monday's 18-5 loss to the Pirates. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel was hardly the only Chicago pitcher to struggle in a game in which the Cubs gave up 23 hits. The veteran reliever allowed two home runs, including the third long ball of the game for Pittsburgh slugger Josh Bell, to account for all three of his earned runs. Kimbrel now has an ugly 13.50 ERA, though he'll quickly whittle that figure down if he can string together a few scoreless appearances.

Manager Joe Maddon is unsure if Kimbrel will be available for Friday's game against the Reds, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel recorded his first save as a Cub on Thursday, but given that it was his first appearance of the season, Maddon may decide to avoid using him back-to-back days out of the gate. Maddon may not have a choice, though, as a couple other relievers will be unavailable Friday, including Pedro Strop.

Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save against the Braves on Thursday, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel's first appearance with the Cubs looked to be smooth sailing when he retired Brian McCann and Johan Camargo to begin the ninth inning, but things got interesting after he gave up a double and a walk to the next two batters. Freddie Freeman followed with a smash down the first base line that Anthony Rizzo snagged on one hop, diving to narrowly beat Freeman to first base and end the game. Kimbrel may exhibit some rust after sitting much of the season, but his career 1.91 ERA and 334 saves make him the obvious choice to close games for the Cubs the rest of the season.