Just when it seemed like the Chicago Cubs were starting to get all of their pieces back together, another key player has experienced a setback. Closer Craig Kimbrel has been placed on the Injured List with right elbow inflammation:

This marks the second IL stint for Kimbrel in the last month after he missed time at the beginning of August due to right knee inflammation.

Kimbrel had converted all five of his save opportunities in August, but he also served up a three-run homer to Christian Yelich with the Cubs trailing 1-0 in the top of the ninth inning in a 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 1.

The 31-year-old from Huntsville, AL has converted 13 out of 15 save opportunities for the Cubs this season, though he boasts a less-than-stellar 5.68 ERA in 19 innings of work.

Kimbrel signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Cubs at the start of June after failing to come to terms with any team as a free agent prior to the start of the regular season. He made his debut on the North Side three weeks later, but the results have been mixed ever since.

Although Kimbrel has managed to be mostly effective in save situations, he has a 5.2 BB/9 rate and a 1.526 WHIP while also giving up six homers.

That said, the seven-time All-Star looked to be that “stopper” that the Cubs had sorely been missing through the first three months of the season, and Joe Maddon will have to delegate the closer role by committee while Kimbrel is on the shelf for what is expected to only be a short time.