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Kimbrel (4-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings victory over the Diamondbacks, striking out one in a scoreless 11th inning.

Advice: He hit Christian Walker with his first pitch of the frame, but Kimbrel quickly escaped the jam by fanning Jake McCarthy and then inducing a double-play grounder from Eugenio Suarez. The veteran reliever then got rewarded when Jordan Westburg walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Yennier Cano worked the ninth inning at home in a tie game -- usage normally reserved for a team's closer -- while Danny Coulombe handled the 10th, so Kimbrel may not be back in the top spot in the O's bullpen just yet, but efforts like this should help him get there. Rotowire.com Saturday, 9:06 pm

Cooper Criswell struck out nine over five innings of two-run baseball against the Nationals on Saturday while picking up a no-decision.

Advice: Criswell allowed only three hits, but two of those were solo homers to make that number a smidgen less impressive. The right-hander did miss plenty of bats in this one, however, in what was another effective start for the 27-year-old. Criswell actually saw his ERA go “up” to 2.10 after this outing, and while he may not go deep, he’s worth considering against the Rays on Thursday. Rotoworld Saturday, 3:28 pm

Kimbrel struck out one in a perfect seventh inning Friday to record his third hold of the season in a 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Advice: The 35-year-old reliever didn't exactly get deployed in the highest-leverage spot, as he faced Arizona's 8-9-1 hitters, but Kimbrel got the job done on an efficient 12 pitches (eight strikes). He topped out at 94.5 mph with his fastball -- he averaged 95.9 mph last season -- and it was only the second time in Kimbrel's last seven appearances that he avoided giving up a run. Yennier Cano got the save in the ninth inning, and that figures be the arrangement for a while until Kimbrel demonstrates his struggles are behind him, although other relievers like Danny Coulombe could also be in the saves mix. Over those last seven appearances, Kimbrel has a 10.13 ERA, 3.19 WHIP and 8:9 K:BB in 5.1 innings. Rotowire.com Saturday, 6:29 am

Kimbrel was pulled in the ninth frame of Wednesday's game against the Nationals and was charged with two runs on two walks and a hit over two-thirds of an inning, though he was credited with a hold.

Advice: Kimbrel was called upon to protect a two-run, ninth-inning lead and initially appeared set to do so with little trouble, as he retired the first two batters he faced. However, Eddie Rosario then tagged the veteran closer for a solo home run, and Kimbrel followed with two straight walks before he was given the hook. Keegan Akin allowed one of the inherited runners to score, thus sending the game into extra frames. Though Kimbrel was credited with a hold, he was pulled in a save situation in the ninth inning for his second straight outing, so his hold on the closer role for Baltimore could be getting tenuous. Over his past five contests, Kimbrel has blown two saves in addition to being pulled from a save situation on two occasions, and he's allowed six earned runs while posting a 4:7 K:BB across 2.1 innings during that stretch. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 11:41 pm

Craig Kimbrel suffered his third blown save of the season on Wednesday night, giving up two runs on a hit and two walks while recording just two outs.

Advice: The 35-year-old right-hander has not pitched well since dealing with back soreness, and perhaps the Orioles want to consider a stint on the injured list to sit him down and get him right. Kimbrel came on with a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of this one and got the first two hitters in order, but then served up a solo homer to Eddie Rosario and then walked a pair of batters before turning the ball over to Keegan Akin who allowed a game-tying RBI single to CJ Abrams. Kimbrel now sports an unappealing 4.73 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 21/9 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings of work on the season. Rotoworld Wednesday, 7:41 pm