Okert will serve as the Marlins' opening pitcher Sunday against the Phillies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
With the Phillies having lefties Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper among their first three hitters, the Marlins' decision to deploy the left-handed Okert at the start of the game makes sense. The Marlins haven't designated a primary pitcher to work behind Okert, but Bryan Hoeing and Edward Cabrera would seem to be the most logical candidates.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Hit with loss as opener
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Okert (3-1) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, coughing up three runs on four hits in only one-third of an inning.
Getting the nod as the opener in a bullpen day, Okert gave up doubles to the first two batters he faced before Anthony Santander crushed a slider over the center-field fence. Long balls have been an issue for the southpaw reliever lately -- he's served up three homers in his last 9.1 innings, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1,39 WHIP over that stretch despite a 13:2 K:BB. Okert already has 10 holds and three wins in 38 appearances on the season, but his grip on a set-up role could be tenuous.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Opening on Sunday
Rotowire
Okert will serve as an opener for the Marlins on Sunday in Baltimore, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Johnny Cueto seems to be a good bet to serve as a bulk reliever in the game. Okert has been fantastic for the Marlins this season, holding a 2.53 ERA and 43:11 K:BB over 32 relief innings.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Collects seventh hold
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Okert gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh inning to record his seventh hold of the season in Sunday's win over the Nationals.
The veteran lefty continues to be stingy. Okert has been scored upon only three times in 22 appearances since the beginning of May, posting a 0.90 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 28:5 K:BB through 20 innings over that stretch. His outstanding numbers have earned him a more prominent role in the Miami bullpen, and over his last nine games he's picked up two wins and four holds. While he's no threat to A.J. Puk's closing job, Okert has emerged as a reliable setup arm alongside Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Gets win in extras
Rotowire
Okert (1-0) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk but got the win in an extra innings affair versus the Cubs on Sunday.
Okert was unable to shut the Cubs out in the 13th to try and get the save but wound up with the win instead. He now sits at one win and one hold on the year and has been a reliable arm once again this season with a 3.52 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a 10:5 K:BB over 7.2 innings.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Okert (groin) was activated Friday from the 15-day injured list, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Okert will join the Marlins' bullpen for Friday night's game against the Guardians after missing the first three weeks of the 2023 season with an adductor injury. He was effective for Miami in both 2021 and 2022, and the 31-year-old left-hander could take on a setup role now that he's back to full health, although he'll be behind both A.J. Puk and Tanner Scott in the pecking order from the port side.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Needs two more rehab outings
Rotowire
Okert (groin) is scheduled to make a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville on back-to-back days this week before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert's ability to pitch on consecutive days will be the final hurdle he needs to clear before the Marlins are comfortable adding him back to the big-league bullpen. The 31-year-old should profile as one of the Marlins' top left-handed options out of the bullpen after he logged a 2.98 ERA over 51.1 innings while gathering 19 holds in 2022.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Another rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
Okert (groin) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
If all goes well during Okert's upcoming outing, he could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of the Marlins' series with the Diamondbacks this weekend. Okert was sharp during his first appearance for Jacksonville on Sunday, issuing one walk and giving up no hits while striking out three batters in the one-inning, 21-pitch outing.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Rehab assignment on tap
Rotowire
Okert (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert is eligible for activation April 11. While he might not quite be ready on that day, he does seem to be tracking toward a mid-April return.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Live session on tap
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Okert (groin) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert doesn't look as though he's on pace to be activated from the 15-day injured list when he's first eligible April 11, but his absence shouldn't extend much beyond that if he's able to steer clear of setbacks as he recovers from the left adductor tightness that cropped up late in spring training. If Okert checks out fine following the upcoming live session, he could be cleared to head out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment soon thereafter.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Moved to 15-day IL
Rotowire
Okert (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.
Okert developed adductor tightness in his inner left thigh toward the end of spring training and figures to miss at least the first couple of weeks of the 2023 regular season. He can be a high-leverage option for the Marlins whenever he's fit again for MLB competition.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Opening year on IL
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The Marlins announced Sunday that Okert (groin) will remain at the team's spring camp in Jupiter and won't be part of the Opening Day roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert is still working through left adductor soreness, so expect Miami to place him on the 15-day injured list within the next few days. The 32-year-old is projected to be a late-inning option for the Marlins in 2023 once healthy.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Still battling groin tightness
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Okert (groin) is unlikely to be ready for the beginning of the season, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert began experiencing adductor tightness in his inner left thigh earlier this week and is not scheduled to pitch in the Marlins' final set of Grapefruit League games. "Bad timing obviously," the reliever said Friday. "There's never a good time to get hurt, but [especially] right at the end of camp. Just got to get healthy and come back so I can help the team as best I can."
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Dealing with adductor issue
Rotowire
Okert was held out of action Wednesday in Marlins camp because of an adductor issue, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
It's something Okert has dealt with in the past and the Marlins didn't want to push him this close to Opening Day. It sounds like they feel he will be fine after a bit of rest and treatment. The 32-year-old right-hander projects to operate in a later-inning role for Miami this season.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Healthy for spring camp
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Okert (triceps) has made three Grapefruit League appearances to date, covering three scoreless innings while striking out two and allowing two hits and one walk.
Okert looks to be back to full strength for spring training after he finished the 2022 season on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tightness. The 31-year-old reliever turned in a 2.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 63:26 K:BB in 51.1 innings a season ago and should factor into the Marlins' setup mix once again in 2023.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Lands on injured list
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Okert was placed on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tightness Thursday, retroactive to Sept. 26, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert hasn't pitched since giving up three runs (two earned) while failing to record an out against the Cubs on Sept. 21. He's apparently dealing with a triceps injury and will be forced to miss the final week of the season, even though his placement on the injured list was backdated. The southpaw was charged with losses in three of his final four appearances of the season but had a solid campaign overall, picking up 19 holds while posting a 2.98 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 51.1 innings over 60 appearances.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Collects 14th hold
Rotowire
Okert gave up a hit and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless innings Thursday to record his 14th hold of the season in a win over the Phillies.
The 31-year-old had a rough patch in late July and early August, giving up runs in three straight appearances, but he appears to have righted the ship. Okert has been the Marlins' top setup man from the left side since Tanner Scott took over the closer role, and he's provided some solid fantasy value with five wins, a 2.77 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and a career-high 31.3 percent strikeout rate through 39 innings on the year in addition to his career high in holds.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Escapes with 12th hold
Rotowire
Okert gave up a run on a hit, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out one in the eighth inning Friday to record his 12th hold of the season in a win over the Mets.
Brought in to face New York's 2-3-4 hitters in a 4-1 game, Okert made things a little too interesting by serving up a solo shot to Francisco Lindor before loading the bases with two outs. Fortunately, the southpaw got Eduardo Escobar to fly out to end the rally. Okert has given up runs in back-to-back appearances, but with Tanner Scott still holding down the closer role, Okert's spot as the Marlins' top left-handed setup man seems fairly secure. Since the beginning of June, he sports a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 13.1 innings with three wins and six holds.
Okert walked one and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning Thursday to record his seventh hold of the season in a win over the Giants.
The veteran came into the season viewed as arguably the third lefty in the Marlins' bullpen, but Okert now has more than twice as many holds as Tanner Scott and Richard Bleier combined. His 2.30 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB through 15.2 innings are equally impressive, and Okert could begin to see situational save chances given the volatility of Miami's other high-leverage options so far this season.
