ANTHONY BENDER NEWS

June struggles continue Bender (1-5) took the loss Thursday against the Phillies, giving up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

Impact Entering a 1-1 game with one out in the eighth inning, the right-hander left a 96.7 mph sinker over the middle of the plate that Kyle Schwarber crushed 428 feet to right-center field for the winning run. Bender hasn't struck out a batter in five straight appearances, and all three of the homers he's served up this season have come in June. Over 6.1 innings this month, he's stumbled to a 7.11 ERA and 3:2 K:BB, although he has managed to collect four holds in seven trips to the mound.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Schwarber hits 23rd homer of season, Sánchez pitches 8 sharp innings to lead Phillies past Marlins

Kyle Schwarber hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth, Christopher Sánchez pitched eight sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Thursday n...

1 DAY AGO

Jesus Sanchez homers as Marlins hold off Nationals 4-3 to clinch series victory

Jesús Sánchez homered in the seventh inning, and the Miami Marlins held off the Washington Nationals 4-3

JUNE 14

Notches eighth hold Bender worked a scoreless seventh inning without a walk or a strikeout to record his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact The right-hander entered the game to protect a 3-0 lead and needed only nine pitches (seven strikes) to dispatch Pittsburgh's 5-6-7 hitters. Bender has a career-low 20.0 percent strikeout rate through 27.1 innings this season and a 10.0 percent walk rate that's just a tick below the career-worst 10.3 percent mark he posted in 2022, but he's generating enough weak contact to make it work, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He hasn't recorded a save since April 1, however, and seems stuck in a setup role ahead of current top closing option Calvin Faucher.

JUNE 11 • ROTOWIRE

Notches eighth hold Bender worked a scoreless seventh inning without a walk or a strikeout to record his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact The right-hander entered the game to protect a 3-0 lead and needed only nine pitches (seven strikes) to dispatch Pittsburgh's 5-6-7 hitters. Bender has a career-low 20.0 percent strikeout rate through 27.1 innings this season and a 10.0 percent walk rate that's just a tick below the career-worst 10.3 percent mark he posted in 2022, but he's generating enough weak contact to make it work, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He hasn't recorded a save since April 1 however, and seems stuck in a setup role ahead of current top closing option Calvin Faucher.

JUNE 11 • ROTOWIRE

Hernandez gets go-ahead hit in 10th as Marlins outlast Morel, Rays 11-10

Jesús Sánchez had a three-run homer and a two-run double, and Heriberto Hernandez singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the Miami Marlins outlasted Christopher Morel an...

JUNE 8

Rockies win first series since 2024, snapping 22-series losing streak

The Colorado Rockies ended a streak of 22 consecutive series losses dating to last year, beating the Miami Marlins 3-2 Tuesday night as Hunt...

JUNE 4

Cabrera, three relievers combine to lead Marlins to 1-0 win over Giants

Edward Cabrera pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, Javier Sanoja had an RBI single, and the Miami Marlins beat the San Francisco Giants 1-0

MAY 31

Kyle Tucker homers for second straight game and helps Cubs beat the Marlins 2-1

Kyle Tucker had a homer among his three hits and knocked in the tiebreaking run with a single and fielding error by Miami in the eighth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the Marlins...

MAY 21

Lopez and Hicks homer to back a strong start from Quantrill in Marlins' 5-1 win over Rays

Otto Lopez hit a three-run homer in his first game off the injured list and Liam Hicks added a two-run shot to back a strong start by Cal Quantrill, powering the Miami Marlins to a...

MAY 18

Falters in high-leverage spot Bender (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the A's, giving up a run on two hits in an inning of relief. He struck out two.

Impact Entering a 2-2 tie to begin the ninth inning, Bender served up a one-out triple to rookie Nick Kurtz before Tyler Soderstrom ripped an RBI single back up the middle. Jesus Tinoco worked a scoreless seventh inning and Calvin Faucher a clean eighth, and while it's encouraging the manager Clayton McCullough held Bender back for a potential save situation in the ninth, the right-hander's performance of late hasn't warranted that trust. Bender's been tagged for a run in four of his last nine appearances, posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB in 8.2 innings over that stretch with two losses and two blown saves against zero saves and just one hold.

MAY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Kurtz triples, scores and Ferguson retires 3 straight in the 9th to lift A's over Marlins 3-2

Rookie Nick Kurtz tripled with one out in the ninth inning and scored on a pinch hit by Tyler Soderstrom to lift the Athletics to a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins

MAY 4

Collects second hold Bender gave up a hit in a scoreless eighth inning to record his second hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

Impact The right-hander continues to be a reliable, if not exactly dominant, high-leverage arm in the Marlins' bullpen. Bender has a 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB through 10 innings with one win and one save in addition to his holds, but he hasn't been called upon to protect a ninth-inning lead since April 1. Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco appear to be the preferred closing options for manager Clayton McCullough at the moment.

APRIL 23 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs Trade Idea Grabs Non-Alcantara Marlins Pitcher With 1.23 ERA A new Chicago Cubs trade idea has them acquiring pitcher Anthony Bender from the Miami Marlins.

APRIL 20 • SACBEE.COM

Saddled with loss Friday 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.

Impact 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 doesn't make him an appealing high-leverage option right now either.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Nathaniel Lowe drives in 3 runs, Nationals score 7 unanswered runs to beat Marlins 7-4

Nathaniel Lowe hit a bases-clearing, go-ahead double in the eighth inning, James Wood added a 400-foot homer in the ninth and the Washington Nationals scored seven unanswered runs...

APRIL 12

Max Meyer flirts with a no-hitter, Marlins beat Mets 5-0

Max Meyer carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and the Miami Marlins salvaged the finale of a three-game series by beating the New York Mets 5-0

APRIL 9

Works ninth in Saturday's win Bender walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday during a 4-0 win over Atlanta.

Impact While it wasn't a save situation, it was still another sign that the right-hander is viewed as the best high-leverage option in the bullpen right now by the Marlins. Calvin Faucher, Bender's main competition for closing duties, recorded the final two outs of the eighth Saturday. Bender hasn't given up a run in four appearances to begin the season, but his 2:2 K:BB in 3.2 innings has been far from dominant.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first save Bender retired the only two batters he faced to earn a save against the Mets on Tuesday.

Impact Bender entered the game with two runners on base and needed just four pitches to close out the 4-2 win. Anthony Veneziano originally began the ninth inning before getting into trouble. Bender is the first Marlin to record a save this season and the bullpen situation seems pretty fluid. He's turned in 2.2 scoreless innings in three appearances.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Alcantara tosses 5 solid innings for 1st win since 2023 as Marlins beat Mets 4-2

Sandy Alcantara pitched five effective innings for his first win in 19 months and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-2 despite getting only three hits

APRIL 2

Nabs win against Bucs 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.

Impact 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.

MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE

Headed for setup role 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 opportu...

Impact 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.

MARCH 19 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration The Marlins and Bender avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Impact 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 out of the Marlins' bullpen in 2024.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Earns first save Bender issued one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday, striking out two and earning a save against the Blue Jays.

Impact Bender threw just 13 of 25 pitches for strikes but still closed out the 3-1 win without much trouble. It was his first outing of more than one inning pitched since July 26. Bender finishes his 2024 season at 5-2 with a 4.08 ERA, one save, 15 holds and a 59:18 K:BB through 53 frames.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE