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Red Sox Strut: Mookie Betts, Craig Kimbrel earn top honors of the week

By Sean Penney

Apr 23, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (50) is greeted by shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts (50) is greeted by shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) prepares to deliver a pitch in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) prepares to deliver a pitch in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Pitcher who gets to Strut

Craig Kimbrel continues to be among the most dominant relievers in the game. He tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings last week, striking out 7 batters for an insane 22.63 K/9.

He’s even proving that he can thrive in non-traditional closing situations – an Achilles heel for Kimbrel in the past. The closer entered a tie game in the 8th on Thursday and struck out a pair of hitters to end the inning with the winning run on base.

He capped off the outing in the ninth with an immaculate inning, joining Pedro Martinez (2002) and Clay Buchholz (2012) as the only Red Sox pitchers to accomplish that rare feat.

Kimbrel was credited with the win in that game, while also picking up his league-leading 11th save of the season in his next appearance on Saturday. He now owns an incredible 1.08 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 17.82 K/9 this season.

After posting a career-high ERA in his first season with the Red Sox last year, Kimbrel is quickly silencing the critics who claimed that he was no longer among the most dominant relievers in baseball.

Next: Red Sox prospects on Baseball America's Top 100

His 1.1 WAR is already more value than he produced all of last season and he’s on pace to get back to the level he was at during his peak years with the Atlanta Braves when he was widely considered the best closer in the game.

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