Dodgers dump struggling Craig Kimbrel as closer

Craig Kimbel, the Dodgers' closer, is no longer with the team.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Kimbrel will be used in different ways over the final two weeks of the season. No one will replace Kimbrel in the ninth.

Roberts said that he wasn't too concerned about it.

He wasn't sure if Kimbrel would be in the playoffs. The Dodgers have won the NL West. The playoffs will start on October 11.

Kimbrel has struggled in his first season in Los Angeles, where he replaced Kenley Jansen. The right-handed pitcher is 6-1 with a 4.14 earned run average. Kimbrel has a 2.33 careerERA with six different teams.

Roberts said that he was open to doing whatever was best for the ball club. We would expect him to look at it as a challenge.

The ninth has become a roller-coaster ride with fans booing at times.

Kimbrel got the victory against Arizona on Thursday even though he gave up a home run and walked another batter. The Dodgers scored two runs in the ninth to win the game.

He leads all active pitchers in career saves.

Roberts doesn't know the future. He is ready to accept whatever role we have for him.

Is that true?

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