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 Su¨¢rez 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 Dom¨ªnguez. 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.