PHOENIX -- Craig Kimbrel will pitch again this postseason, but the next time he pitches, it will not be in a big spot late in the game.

It’s too risky.

Kimbrel allowed a walk-off single to D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Chase Field, then he allowed three runs in the eighth inning to blow a save and take the loss in Game 4 on Friday.

Kimbrel is the first Phillies reliever to lose consecutive postseason games. The only other relievers to lose multiple games for Philadelphia in a single postseason are Mitch Williams in 1993 and Tug McGraw in '80.

Asked on Saturday how gutsy it would be to use Kimbrel right now in a high-leverage situation, Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said, “Pretty gutsy. I think he just needs a little bit of a break, you know?”

What does a break mean at this time of year?

“Sixth inning, seventh inning,” Thomson said. “His stuff is good. It’s just his ability to power the ball through the zone.”

Kimbrel was already not expected to pitch in Game 5 on Saturday, having thrown 45 pitches over the past two nights. Left-hander Ranger Suárez will be in the bullpen for Game 5. It would not be a surprise to see him close the game if the Phils have a late lead.

If a situation calls for a right-handed reliever late in Game 6 on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, it is likely the Phillies will turn to Jeff Hoffman or Seranthony Domínguez. Orion Kerkering is in the same spot as Kimbrel, having struggled in Games 3 and 4.

Asked if he said anything to Kimbrel after Game 4, Thomson said: “Just patted him on the back. It’s a team game, you know? We made a lot of mistakes [Friday]. We made baserunning mistakes, a throwing error. There were other guys who didn’t throw strikes. We’ve just got to clean it up.”

Though Friday's stumble marked Kimbrel's first blown save in 11 career tries in the postseason, he has had his struggles on this stage. He has a 4.66 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 29 career postseason games. Even when he went 6-for-6 in save opportunities for the 2018 Red Sox during their title run, he put up a 6.14 ERA in those saves before being removed from the closer role late in the World Series.