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Kimbrel has made three appearances thus far for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday.

Craig Kimbrel likely to make Cubs debut later this week, report says

Craig Kimbrel could make his Cubs debut as early as Thursday or Friday, according to The Athletic.

The report notes that Kimbrel is expected to pitch again Tuesday for the Iowa Cubs, Chicago's Triple-A affiliate, "but if all goes well, that is likely his final AAA outing."

The 31-year-old Kimbrel, who signed a three-year contract with the Cubs as a free agent June 7 after not landing a deal in the offseason, has made three appearances thus far in Triple A. He's given up a walk and two hits, one a homer, in 2 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run.

"You just wait until he says he's ready, and don't attach a specific time frame to it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told Fox Sports earlier this month. "You want to do this right, you want when he comes back he feels really good, he's in great shape, he can go back-to-back days and he's not going to get hurt."

A seven-time All-Star who has played with the Red Sox, Braves and Padres, Kimbrel saved 42 games and posted a 2.74 ERA last season for Boston. He has 333 career saves with a 1.91 ERA.

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