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: Makes first rehab appearance
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Bender (shoulder) struck out two batters and gave up one earned run on three hits and no walks over one inning in a rehab appearance Saturday with Triple-A Jacksonville.
Bender threw 20 pitches in the rehab outing, his first since landing on the injured list Aug. 15 with a right shoulder impingement. He'll likely need to get in another appearance or two in the minors before rejoining the Miami bullpen, likely as a setup option in front of new closer Calvin Faucher.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Starts playing catch
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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: Placed on 15-day IL
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The Marlins placed Bender on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement.
Bender is dealing with an injury in the shoulder of his throwing arm and will be sidelined until at least Aug. 27. The 29-year-old will be replaced on the active roster by Emmanuel Ramirez. Prior to suffering the injury, Bender posted a 4.00 ERA across 45.0 innings for the Marlins.
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.
Bender (2-2) picked up the win Friday over the Mariners, working a perfect 10th inning without a walk or a strikeout.
The right-hander sat down the bottom of Seattle's order on 14 pitches (eight strikes), then got rewarded when Tim Anderson walked it off with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame. Over his last 12 appearances, Bender has delivered a 2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and three holds in addition to Friday's win, and he remains part of the high-leverage mix for Miami.
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Marlins' Anthony Bender: Nabs first win of season
Rotowire
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.
Bender gave up a run on three hits while striking out one in the seventh inning Sunday, recording his fourth hold of the season in a loss to Atlanta.
The right-hander's 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through seven innings aren't pretty, but Bender leads the Marlins in holds and his 11:2 K:BB indicates he's fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2023. Tanner Scott blew the save Sunday and seems to be hanging onto his closer role by a thread, so Bender and Andrew Nardi could begin to see ninth-inning work in his place.
Bender gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning Thursday to collect his second hold of the season in a loss to the Cardinals.
The right-hander has been arguably the Marlins' most reliable reliever so far, posting a 6:1 K:BB through 3.2 innings and getting scored upon in only one of his four appearances. By contrast, closer Tanner Scott has a 5:6 K:BB in 3.0 innings, and Andrew Nardi has an ERA of 21.60 and has given up multiple runs in three of his four appearances. Bender's usage Thursday doesn't suggest he's in the closing mix at the moment, but if Scott and Nardi continue to struggle, that could change by the time Miami -- 0-8 to begin the season -- starts having late leads to protect.
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: Comeback going well
Rotowire
Bender gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, but Bender has been healthy in camp and looks ready to resume a high-leverage role in the Marlins' bullpen. Through six spring innings, he's allowed only one run while posting an 8:2 K:BB. Tanner Scott is expected to begin the season as Miami's closer, but if he falters, Bender could work his way back into the ninth-inning mix -- he recorded six saves, plus three holds and a win, over 22 appearances in 2022 prior to undergoing elbow surgery.
