Anthony Bender DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Anthony Bender saw the team's first save opportunity of the season and converted it in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Mets. Anthony Veneziano started the top of the ninth inning with a two-run lead, and Bender came in to relieve him with one out and runners on first and second. The 30-year-old shut the door with a fly-out and a ground-out. Given that two of the Mets' first three hitters in the ninth were left-handed, that could explain why the lefty Veneziano started the inning. The Marlins did not come into the season with a declared closer, although Bender and Calvin Faucher seemed to be the likeliest candidates. Bender has been a solid reliever throughout his career, but he owns just 11 career saves in four seasons. He may be worth a speculative fantasy look in deep roto leagues at this time.

Miami Marlins right-handed reliever Anthony Bender (shoulder) is scheduled for back-to-back rehab outings with Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Bender threw 20 pitches (15 strikes) in an inning of work for Jacksonville on Saturday, which was his first rehab appearance since landing on the injured list on Aug. 15. He struck out two and gave up one run in that outing. The 29-year-old last pitched for the Marlins on Aug. 10 against the San Diego Padres before going down with a right-shoulder impingement. He received an injection in his shoulder on Aug. 15 but could return to the big-league bullpen by this weekend, barring any setbacks this week in the minors. When Bender is back, he figures to operate in a late-inning setup role for the Fish in front of Calvin Faucher, who has taken over closing duties in Miami of late.

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Anthony Bender (elbow) said that he's fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that he had in August of 2022 and is expecting to enter spring training without any limitations. "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." The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2023 as a result of his Tommy John procedure in addition to a hip surgery he had in 2022. In his first two big-league seasons with the Fish in 2021 and 2022, Bender had a 2.90 ERA (3.57 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, nine saves, 28 walks and 88 K's in 80 2/3 relief innings. Expect Miami to ease Bender back into the fold as more of a middle reliever early in 2024, but he could eventually find himself in high-leverage situations again while competing for saves with Tanner Scott and A.J. Puk.