Kimbrel notched his third save with a scoreless ninth inning against Toronto on Friday night.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't the smoothest ride as he allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one. The good news is he is capable of dominating - he has nine strikeouts in five appearances - but he also has an unsightly 5.40 ERA so there have been rough stretches already. It's early in the season so given his results when he's on his game, there is every reason to believe he will remain one the game's best in the ninth inning.

Kimbrel struck out the side in order Wednesday against the Orioles for his second save of the year.

EDGE Analysis

Boston's big bullpen acquisition just got his spot blown up by a Chris Davis homer Monday, but he was right back at it in this one. Still only 27 years old, Kimbrel's struck out eight batters in four games, and there's no reason we shouldn't see him once again finish among the top few closers in baseball.

Kimbrel took his first loss of the year Monday, allowing three runs on a three-run Chris Davis home run.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel had walked Caleb Joseph and Manny Machado to put the baserunners aboard for Davis' blast. The former Padre has 226 career saves and a 1.62 career ERA. He should revert back to form in short order.

Kimbrel made his regular-season debut for Boston on Tuesday, striking out two and walking one in a non-save situation.

EDGE Analysis

We got to see Boston's optimal late-game relief plan play out Tuesday, with Junichi Tazawa (two strikeouts) in the seventh, Koji Uehara (one strikeout) in the eighth, and its new closer in the ninth. If Tazawa / Uehara can pitch as they did Tuesday, Kimbrel will be in line for many saves in 2016. The question remains if Boston has enough starting pitching beyond ace David Price to put them in a position to optimally deploy the bullpen.

Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning Thursday, striking out all three batters faced in a game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel has been dominant this spring, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit in five innings. There have been some hiccups on the staff -- Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) will miss the start of the season, Clay Buchholz and Rick Porcello haven't pitched well, and relievers Carson Smith (forearm) and Koji Uehara (general soreness) are dealing with injuries -- but the back end of the bullpen appears secure with Kimbrel pitching in mid-season form.

Kimbrel made his debut with his new team Friday, allowing an unearned run in one inning against the Rays, the Boston Herald reports. "I felt like it went good, I was controlling my fastball and tried to throw some offspeed pitches over the plate," Kimbrel said. "With spring training that will come but I was really pleased with how my fastball was today."

EDGE Analysis

There's no secret to where Kimbrel fits in Boston's bullpen -- he's the closer who possesses a high-90s fourseam fastball. The Red Sox lacked power arms in the bullpen last year and acquiring Kimbrel from San Diego was one move to remedy that.

The Padres have agreed to trade Kimbrel to the Red Sox, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

There were rumors that the Red Sox were in the market for a new closer with 40-year-old Koji Uehara losing another tick on his fastball, and it seems they have landed their guy in Kimbrel. It's uncertain, however, who all is headed to San Diego in the deal. Kimbrel fell one save shy of 40 last season, and his 2.58 ERA was a career-worst mark, but he fanned 36.4 percent of he batters he faced and should be a top-five closer off the board come spring.

Kimbrel struck out two batters and allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 38th save in a 3-0 win over Arizona on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

It's amazing that Kimbrel has 38 saves on such a bad team, but it shows you how valuable he can be. He now ranks in the top-five of saves and strikeouts for all closers. Kimbrel has also been a nit unlucky this year, as his 14 percent home run-to-flyball rate is a career high. Not many closers are as reliable as Kimbrel and it makes him a great draft pick year after year.

Kimbrel (3-2) absorbed a blown save but earned a win Wednesday night, giving up one earned run on a hit while striking out two in a 5-4 win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel's blown save came on a wild pitch, allowing Buster Posey to score and tie the game. The Padres would ultimately win on a walk-off Jedd Gyorko RBI single, awarding Kimbrel a victory as the pitcher of record. Kimbrel's outings have come less frequently of late, making just six appearances thus far in September. The 27-year-old closer has pitched to a career-worst 2.72 ERA, but maintained an encouraging 13.01 K/9.

Kimbrel vultured a win Tuesday to improve to 2-2, as he allowed a run in the ninth and blew his third save of the season against the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Kimbrel has been solid this season, and most closers would be satisfied with a 2.89 ERA and 36 saves in 39 chances. But Kimbrel is on pace for career worsts in each stat, and even though his 12.5 K/9 ranks seventh among qualified relievers, that would also be a career low.