Andrew

Kittredge

The Orioles have already brought back Andrew Kittredge, but he’s likely to be a setup man if things work out the way the team hopes. “Ideally, we’re going to acquire somebody who has closer experience, that’s good against righties and lefties,” Elias said. “There are a few teams (trying to do) that. Maybe there’s not enough to go around. But it’s at the top of our list.”

It was a fait accompli once Baltimore re-acquired the veteran setup man earlier this week in a trade with the Cubs. The 35-year-old high-leverage specialist gives the Orioles another late-inning option while hard-throwing closer Félix Bautista continues his recovery from elbow surgery.

Kittredge signed a one-year, $10 million contract with a $9 million option ($1 million buyout) for 2026 with the Orioles last winter and then was traded to the Cubs at the deadline. He was even better in Chicago than he was in Baltimore, finishing with a 3.32 ERA and an outstanding 32/3 K/BB in 21 2/3 innings, so it’s surprising the Cubs didn’t want him back. The Orioles did, so they’ll pick up the option, and unless they land a bigger name, they could use him in the closer’s role with Félix Bautista likely out for the year. This leaves the Cubs without a single reliever due to make much more than the minimum (only Eli Morgan is arbitration eligible, and he could be non-tendered), but they obviously think some free agents will prove better investments.

Kittredge — who was used as an opener for the Cubs in Game 2 — came on with one out in the ninth inning after Brad Keller had plunked consecutive hitters to put the tying runs on base. The 35-year-old hurler bailed his bullpen-mate right out, getting Jake Cronenworth on a ground ball to third base and Freddy Fermin on a fly ball to center to preserve the two-run lead. His next assignment will come against the Brewers in the NLDS.

Imanaga took over in the second inning after opener Andrew Kittredge coughed up a run in the opening frame. The 32-year-old lefty kept San Diego off the board until the fifth inning when Manny Machado connected for a two-run moonshot to left field. He struck out three and only issued two walks, needing 67 pitches (46 strikes) to navigate four frames. He would likely take the ball early next week in the NLDS should the Cubs eliminate the Padres.

Kittredge will face the top of the Padres’ lineup before handing things over to lefty Shota Imanaga. Chicago took the opening contest of the best-of-three series at Wrigley Field when Matthew Boyd, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Kittredge and Brad Keller combined to hold San Diego to just one run on four hits. It’ll likely be an all-hands situation if the Cubs jump out to an early lead with Jameson Taillon the likely option to pitch a decisive Game 3 showdown.

The 35-year-old right-hander has really taken to the closer’s role in the wake of Daniel Palencia’s (shoulder) injury. He struck out Chandler Simpson and Bob Seymour each on swinging third strikes to open the inning before issuing a two-out walk to Yandy Diaz. Kittredge then battled back and got Junior Caminero on a swinging third strike to end the ballgame. He now sports a 3.31 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a 56/11 K/BB ratio over 49 innings on the season while converting five of his first six save chances.

The 35-year-old hurler made it look easy in this one, getting Junior Caminero on a ground ball to third, Jake Mangum on a tapper in front of home plate and Josh Lowe on a swinging third strike to end it. He has recorded saves in each of the Cubs’ last two games and looks like the favorite for save chances while Daniel Palencia (shoulder) is sidelined.

The Cubs called upon Kittredge for the ninth inning after presumed closer Brad Keller pitched the eighth against the top of the Braves’ order. Each delivered scoreless innings and this showed us that Keller is considered the best reliever, but saves will be determined more by the situations at hand.

There’s no word yet on the severity of the strain, but it could sideline Palencia for the rest of the regular season. He suffered the injury during Sunday’s meltdown against the Nationals, when he was tagged for five runs in a blown save. His absence leaves Chicago’s ninth-inning role unsettled, though Andrew Kittredge is one of the favorites to step in given his prior closing experience. The other logical candidate is veteran Brad Keller, who has made the leap from journeyman swingman to dominant high-leverage arm this season.