Bender (1-1) was charged with a blown save and a loss Friday as the Marlins fell to the Nationals, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in the eighth inning. He struck out one.
The Marlins' bullpen squandered a 4-2 lead over the final two frames in an eventual 7-4 loss, with Bender throwing most of the gas on the fire. After Anthony Veneziano put the first two hitters aboard to begin the eighth, Bender got the call and walked the bases loaded before serving up a one-out double to Nathaniel Lowe that cleared the bases. The run was the first charged to Bender in 6.1 innings this season, but his 3:3 K:BB has been far from dominant. Calvin Faucher hasn't pitched since Tuesday and might be in line to get Miami's next save chance, although his 8.31 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 4.1 innings don't make him an appealing high-leverage option right now either.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Nabs win against Bucs
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Bender (1-0) walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Sunday to secure the win in a 3-2 victory over the Pirates.
The right-hander entered the game with the score tied 2-2, putting him in the right place at the right time when a David Bednar wild pitch brought home Derek Hill in the bottom of the frame. Calvin Faucher worked the eighth and is still the presumed favorite for saves, but Miami hasn't actually had a ninth-inning lead to protect yet this season -- all three of their wins have been walkoffs. With Jesus Tinoco (back) on the shelf until at least mid-April, there should at least be more high-leverage work available for Bender after he recorded five wins and 15 holds, both career highs, in 2024.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Headed for setup role
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Bender has a spot secure on the Marlins' Opening Day roster but will likely begin the season in a setup role, with Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco getting the first closing opportunities.
Neither Faucher nor Tinoco are proven commodities in the ninth inning, so if they both struggle, Bender could get a look as the closer later in the year. The right-hander has posted an 8:2 K:BB through 7.2 Grapefruit League innings this spring as he looks to build on a 2024 campaign that saw his record a career-high 15 holds along with a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB through 53 innings.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender had been eligible for arbitration for the first time. The right-handed reliever posted a 4.08 ERA and 59:18 K:BB across 53 innings with one save and 15 holds out of the Marlins' bullpen in 2024.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
The Marlins reinstated Bender (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Bender has been on the shelf since mid-August due to a right shoulder impingement, but he's been cleared to return to Miami's bullpen after allowing one run in three innings during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville. The 29-year-old holds a 4.00 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 45 innings in the majors, though a lack of depth in the Marlins' bullpen has allowed him to work in several high-leverage situations.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Starts playing catch
Rotowire
Bender (shoulder) played catch Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender was placed on the IL on Aug. 16, and while he'll be eligible to return Tuesday, it appears he'll require more than the minimum 15 days. He has several checkpoints to clear before being activated, possibly including a rehab assignment.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Nabs fourth win Friday
Rotowire
Bender (4-2) was credited with the win Friday after giving up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
The right-hander took over for Edward Cabrera in the top of the fifth with the Marlins ahead 4-2 and wound up being the pitcher of record, despite serving up a double to Jose Iglesias in the sixth ahead of Jeff McNeil's second homer of the night. Bender has been one of the Marlins' most effective relievers over the last couple months, and since the beginning of June he's posted a 1.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB through 14.2 innings while collecting three wins and three holds in 19 appearances. Should Tanner Scott get dealt ahead of the trade deadline, Bender could find himself in the ninth-inning mix for Miami.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Nabs first win of season
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Bender (1-2) picked up the win Sunday against the Phillies, walking two and striking out one in a scoreless 10th inning.
Both free passes the right-hander issued were at least semi-intentional, but Bender was able to get Kody Clemens to pop out with the bases loaded to end the threat. The Marlins then walked it off in the bottom of the frame to give Bender the victory. He's delivered six straight scoreless appearances and the 29-year-old right-hander does have a 20:7 K:BB through 17 innings on the season, but his 5.82 ERA and 1.71 WHIP make him tough to rely on for fantasy purposes.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Gives up first runs of 2024
Rotowire
Bender was charged with two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an innings during Monday's loss to the Angels. He struck out one without walking a batter.
The right-hander's final line was a little unlucky, as the second run charged to him scored on a Burch Smith balk after Bender had left the game. Bender threw only 19.1 big-league innings the prior two years, largely due to Tommy John surgery in August 2022, but he's had a solid start to his 2024 campaign and has posted a 5:1 K:BB through 2.2 innings, with Monday's runs being the first on his ledger. Tanner Scott's control has nearly completely deserted him to begin the season, so Bender might get a chance to reclaim the closer role he briefly held early in 2022.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Declares self ready for spring
Rotowire
Bender (elbow) said in a recent interview with Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald that he's fully recovered from his August 2022 Tommy John surgery and is prepared to enter spring training with no restrictions. "I'm ready to go in and help out anywhere I can," Bender said. "If there's a spot where my name is called, I'll go out there and do my job."
In addition to having Tommy John surgery, Bender underwent a hip procedure late in the 2022 season and wasn't available to pitch at any level in 2023. He had been cleared to face hitters in the final weeks of the 2023 season and looks as though he's had a relatively normal offseason now that he's well over a year removed from Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the elbow injury, Bender had been one of the Marlins' top relievers in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but he may open the 2024 season in more of a lower-leverage role as he aims to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command. Miami is already bringing back most of its key relievers from this past season, when the bullpen ended up being a surprise strength for the team in the second half as the Marlins earned a spot in the postseason.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Agrees to terms with Marlins
Rotowire
Bender (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Marlins on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
Bender missed all of the 2023 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He was facing hitters in September, meaning he should have the chance to enter the 2024 campaign healthy.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Facing hitters soon
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Bender (elbow) is expected to progress to live batting practice sessions soon, MLB.com reports.
Bender has been throwing off a mound for two months now and is almost ready to face hitters. The reliever is nearly 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery but is not expected to make it back before the end of the season.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Throwing out to 120 feet
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Bender (elbow) increased his flat-ground throwing Tuesday to 120 feet, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender needed Tommy John surgery in late August of last year and probably won't be ready to return to a major-league mound until the beginning of the 2024 season, but all of the reports from the early stages of his recovery have been encouraging.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Will begin rehab soon
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Bender (elbow) will begin his rehab process with Single-A Jupiter in a week, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery Tuesday, Bender is scheduled to begin the rehab process next week in the minors. Of course, Tommy John surgery typically takes a long time to return from, so it might take Bender an entire season before he's able to pitch in the big leagues again.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Bender (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.
It was reported earlier this month that Bender would require Tommy John surgery, and he was able to sneak in the procedure before August came to a close. Given the timing of the injury, Bender may not be ready to pitch again until sometime in 2024.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Requires Tommy John surgery
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Bender (elbow), who was placed on the injured list Sunday, will require Tommy John surgery, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The 27-year-old's initial diagnosis was a right elbow strain after he exited a game last weekend against Atlanta, and he's apparently dealing with damage to the UCL. Bender will miss the rest of the season and should also be expected to be sidelined for the full 2023 campaign. He recorded six saves and three holds with a 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 19.1 innings this year.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Bender was placed on the injured list Sunday with a right elbow strain, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The extent of the injury that forced Bender from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Atlanta is uncertain, but he will be out at least a couple weeks.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Exits Saturday's game
Rotowire
Bender (undisclosed) was removed from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Atlanta after throwing five pitches, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender came in to pitch with the Marlins down four runs in the ninth, though his outing was cut short. It's unclear what caused his exit, but Bender returned from a back injury on Aug. 2.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Bender (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bender has already been on the injured list for nearly 60 days, so the transaction won't affect his return timeline. The 27-year-old began a rehab assignment in mid-July, and he could rejoin the Marlins after making a couple more outings in the minors.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Bender (back) began a rehab assignment with the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bender has been sidelined since late May due to a back injury, but it's encouraging that he's now been cleared to return to game action. His rehab assignment will shift to Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, and he'll likely be in the mix to rejoin the Marlins shortly after the All-Star break.
